"Our students will live in a world where the only certainty will be change. If they are to manage their lives and fulfil their dreams they will need to become independent lifelong learners able to make intelligent and informed decisions.

Students must develop the skills needed to access and use resources in print, pictorial and electronic formats understand and use effective and efficient research strategies select, interpret, evaluate and use information from all sources and media expand their own knowledge base and understanding of the world and its people think critically and make decisions according to personal needs, beliefs and values as well as factual evidence share information and opinions and be able to justify these through reasonable argument understand and respect the values and beliefs of other cultures. We do this through the Information Literacy Process."

 

What is information literacy?

If you are information literate, you are able to know when you have a need for information find the information you need evaluate it and use it effectively to meet your needs

Why do students need to be information literate?

"Even though the rate that we can generate and transmit information has increased dramatically since stone-age man first chiselled a message onto a clay tablet, the rate that we can process it has not altered.

We still read at about 300 words per minute and speak at about 120 words per minute.

It took 1750 years for the knowledge that was known in the time of Jesus Christ to double. Now it is estimated that it doubles every four years. Our current kindergarten students will have to deal with at least 16 times what is currently known by the time they complete Year 12. We cannot teach our students facts and figures that are not yet contemplated. But we can teach them how to find and use those facts and figures when they are needed."

 

How can students become information literate?

Teaching students how to use the Information Literacy Process when looking for information teaches them an effective process to meet their information needs throughout their lives. It is a process which can be used whenever information is required, and modified to meet the user's circumstances. It is based on how we believe students learn and encourages them to become independent, lifelong learners. Kennewick schools have elected to teach the Big6 information skills process, district wide.

Barbara Braxton - Palmerston School District, 2000