Definition

Information literacy has been defined in a number of ways. One definition follows. Information literacy is the ability to: 1] determine what information is needed; 2] formulate and ask the right questions to get at that information need, 3] search through a wide variety of materials (print, non-print, online) effectively; 4] critically evaluate the worth of the material found; 5] gather and assemble the materials in such a way so that the information need is met; 7] carefully document the sources of information; and 7] identify when enough information is found to answer the questions and serve the information need.

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Information Literacy and Computer Competency

The Merced College Curriculum Committee believes that students need to have information literacy and computer competency to be successful not only in their academic lives, but also in their lives as continuous learners. The Curriculum Committee has adopted the following components of information literacy and computer competency:

a) name and describe the typical digital computer components and their functions;

b) describe common computer applications and related social and ethical problems/ impacts;

c) learn fundamental operations and concepts of word processing, spreadsheet, and/or database software applications;

d) understand the difference between information and knowledge;

e) understand the links among information centers and the access points available through technology and reference sources;

f) understand the basic structure of electronic databases and the strategies used to access them;

g) recognize the different levels, types, and formats of information including, but not limited to, primary versus secondary sources and popular versus scholarly sources.

Computer and Information Literacy Competency at Merced College --A presentation by Dee Near, faculty librarian, on the process by which Merced College developed this competency requirement for graduation.

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Search Strategy

Searching for information can be a fun and challenging process. To keep the work from turning into a struggle, it is best to devise a search strategy. Here are some clues to assist in organizing the search.

1] Define the question. What exactly do you want to know -- How to play football? or Who won the Super Bowl last year?

2] Determine how much you need to know. Is this for a term paper? a speech? a quick answer to a bet?

3] Set other parameters such as: How recent must the information be? How scholarly must the information be? How many sources do you need to satisfy your assignment?

4] Keep an eye on the deadline for the project -- the more resources needed, the longer it will take to assemble and use them.

5] Keep track of every source used (author, title, date, page number), even the ones that don't look promising at first. They may work for another assignment or they may be useful as you get more involved in your assignment.

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Internet Searching

The key to Internet searching is to set a strategy in place before you start searching the World Wide Web. The Internet has millions of accessible web pages. You can have so much fun, be directed so many places, and get so tired that you get nothing accomplished relative to your assignment.

Points to remember.

1] All search engines (Altavista, AskJeeves, HotBot, etc.) have instructions on how best to use them on their home pages. It really saves time to read their search suggestions first before you try to use them.

2] Use more than one search engine. It is best to use three or four in a search because they really do access different web sites.

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Information Competency Presentations and Classes

Computer and Information Literacy Competency at Merced College --A presentation by Dee Near, faculty librarian, on the process by which Merced College developed this competency requirement for graduation.

The Computer and Information Literacy Competency Requirement at Merced College --A presentation by Dr. Susan Walsh, for the Great Valley Annual Regional Conference, May 10, 2000, on the goals of Merced College in having this competency requirement for graduation.

Merced College offers a class on information literacy.  Its brief description follows.

Learning Resources 30, Information Literacy in the Electronic Age :

This course follows the guidelines of the California Community Colleges Academic Senate Information Competency Initiative and the Computer and Information Literacy requirements of Merced College.  It is designed to introduce students to library research and resources including information retrieval tools.  Course work will include library literacy, research methods, and information technology literacy, including database applications, as well as consideration of ethical and legal implications of computer applications and information use.  This course also presents techniques for successful research including documentation and citation of resources, evaluation of information resources, and bibliography production
This course provides basic college-level knowledge and skills necessary for effective use of libraries and information sources including the development of search strategies, the effective use of print and C-D Rom reference sources, the evaluation of information sources, the understanding of issues affecting information access in our society, the conventions of scholarly citation, and an introduction to on-line databases through the use of INTERNET and other electronic sources.

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Links to Useful Information Sites

UC Berkeley Library -- What is the Internet

Library Spot: Invisible Web

Information Competency Page by Topsy Smalley

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This page was developed by Dr. Susan Walsh.  You can email  her at  walsh.s@mccd.edu

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Last updated June 16, 2006

Last updated June 16, 2006.