A8.3: Information Literacy

     Information literacy is very important in today’s society.  An information literate person is able to recognize when information is needed and is able to retrieve the needed information.  To begin searching for a subject, an individual must understand what is the question being asked and how should it be answered.  They should also take into account what they already know about the topic before beginning their search.  Once formulating what is being asked the individual should then form a search strategy.  Where can the information be located?  With today’s technology there are ample resources available at the touch of the button.  Then, the individual must decide what resources to use.  An information literate person will be able to easily determine what sources are reliable and the sources that are not reliable.  After retrieving the data needed the individual will then organize it and prepare to present it.

      Of course there are certain skills a person must have to be information literate.  The person has to know when there is a need for information.  They have to know how to obtain the information and then organize it.  These skills are needed to be a good researcher and an information literate person.

      As I have gone through school information literacy has emerged.  I think that my generation is the first that this skill has been emphasized for due to the advances in technology.  Because let’s face it, we are living in the computer age.  The earliest experience that I can remember using the skills involved in information literacy, was when I was in the sixth grade.  In the sixth grade I was required to write a research paper.  I can remember going to the library and using the computer to look up newspaper, journal, and magazine articles that I needed.  While I was there I also learned how to use the card catalog.  This experience helped prepare me for the challenges that awaited me in junior high and high school.  As I continued through school technology advance and the Internet has now become the biggest resource that I have.  It is so easy to research today because all you have to do is type a word into your computer and hundreds, maybe even thousands of results are returned.  The challenge is determining if the source is reliable.  At Marshall, I have learned how to search databases efficiently and now that is were I mainly search when I have a topic I am researching.  I think that being information literacy is now a requirement in today’s society and I think that teachers realize that and are emphasizing it in their classrooms.   These are my thoughts on information literacy.