Information Literacy

Introduction

One of the things that you have to get used to in university is the wide range of sources of information for learning. In the unit, ‘Active listening: note-taking in lectures’, the importance of your lecture notes as a record of your learning in lecture-time and a prompt for memory during later study was highlighted. Your lecture notes are just one source of information. Some useful approaches and techniques that you can develop to help you make the most of your reading were outlined in the unit, ‘Active and critical reading.’ This presupposed, however, that your readings had been prescribed. Often, when presented with an assignment, students may have to choose appropriate reading themselves. This can prove to be a stumbling block for many students. However, with practice you will become confident at carrying out comprehensive and effective information searches. Furthermore, this is a skill that can be transferred to a wide range of situations throughout your life.

This unit introduces the DCU Library E-Tutorial for Students (LETS), which provides you with a useful tool to help find, use and evaluate information effectively. It also provides advice and tips on citing information in your projects and assignments. The e-tutorial comprises four modules and these are described later in this unit.

As was discussed in earlier units, the ways in which you read and write will differ from subject to subject and from assignment to assignment. There will also be certain search strategies that are more appropriate for your particular discipline(s).  Ideally, all learning skills should be developed within the particular parameters of your discipline(s). As you engage in the university learning experience, you will progressively develop knowledge of subject-specific discourse, and through participating in it come to understand its particular conventions. In the meantime, if in doubt, check with your lecturers.

Learning objectives

At the end of this unit you will be able to:

• understand the importance of good information literacy skills,
• overview the DCU Library E-Tutorial for Students (LETS), the learning objectives for which are outlined below, module by module.