Importance Of Information Literacy


Information literacy can be described as the shedding of ignorance by adopting and embracing education. Since the introduction of information technology, with internet technology taking the lead, communication and information took a new form, it practically developed wings and fly to the highest of heights. Technologies was born, computers, emails, digital instruments and the likes where delivered to aid knowledge acquisition. In this regard, importance of information literacy could be deduced to have been stationed and at the same time, where it became an instrument of imparting knowledge. Unlike, the ancient Greek methodology of knowledge impartation where intelligence was the core of teaching or the medieval use of email, and so on. Equipments, gadgets, software like the computers, email, internet, phones and so on are adopted as a vehicle of conveying information to willing individuals. So it became necessary to become information literate, and according to Shapiro Hughes, he confirmed this analogy when he asserts that information literacy use computers to “access information”. That was in 1966, if he was alive, he would have modified his definition to include other instruments like – internet. Without much ado, the importance of information literacy which is the main subject today is elucidated below.

 

Information literacy overview:

 

Information literacy is more like an adaptive issue; it goes beyond just using intelligence, demonstration, explanation and other teaching methodologies, but the fusion of intelligence, visuals, computer literacy, media literacy, technological literacy, thinking ethics, communication skills and internet technology to impart knowledge. Gone are the days where educational training is restricted to just text books, students especially in this highly technology era, are expected to become literates by learning the techniques of these instruments. According to the ACRL (Association of college and research libraries), the concept and adoption of information literacy is the basis for continued learning interventions as such, it is useful to all profession under any educational conditions. The importance of information literacy is:

 

Evolution of information literacy

Information literacy is by no means a new concept; it can be trace back to the 19th century. However, this where just views of selected people, some asserts that it is traced to the beginning of the 20th century, when Patricia Knapp postulated the library instructions. She asserted that Library education should be formulated as a form of educational adoptions. According to her “competence in library use like competence in reading is not a skill to be acquired one and for all”, for this reason librarian faculties collaboration became a vital information literacy component.

 

The decisive moments for library as a tool of information literacy however came in the 1989, when the ALA (American library association) president Patricia Senn Breivik under the committee party prevented library literacy from sinking in the sea of prevalent online information materials especially in the universities. To save and secure the position of almost defunct library literacy, the committee wrote a report identifying the subject as an endangered skill in the new age of information and included emotional advantages of maintaining the culture of library literacy. Obviously, the report was accepted as library today is noted as a primary reservoir for information acquisition.

 

The crux of the evolution of information literacy is based on showing the introduction of various information technology as it formed a pattern in the educational structures. Have you ever bothered to know the reason for using these educational tools? To explain this, the importance of information literacy will be discussed next.

 

Importance of information literacy

 

1.                  Information literacy facilitates learning processes. Students learn faster and better through the vehicles of information literacy.

2.                  Determines the extent of information. Students are exposed to learning information devices and as such are able to evaluate and perceive the level of information required in a particular subject. He or she is able, not only to decipher the extent of knowledge, but also provide the answer for the quest.

3.                  Through this material students are able to identify information, and thus assess the origin of such information crucially. This is very timely as educational authorities according to the rubrics of written exercises demands for extensive research work in all writing exercises.

4.                  One is able to advance in knowledge as they avail themselves of resources from these information technologies

5.                  Another importance of information literacy is that, information as an effectual educational instrument is adopted to accomplish a particular function

6.                  Through this medium of information literacy, one is able to comprehend issues like: social, economy, political, geographical educational issues in a country, region, school, etc.

 

Information literacy is very expedient for acquiring knowledge. One only need to go through the importance of information literacy to understand the extent of the reason why adopting this subject is most important. Also, it should be noted that information literacy did not just start today, but way back in the 20th century.



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