Teaching Information Literacy

University Libraries

Students’ success, in academic and professional life, relies on their ability to effectively locate, critically evaluate, and ethically use and share information. Although research indicates that most instructors consider information literacy to be important for their students (Saunders, 2012), many are uncertain about how to approach teaching information literacy. In this endorsement, participants will learn how to purposefully and strategically teach information literacy skills and concepts in their classes. Participants will be introduced to the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Association of College and Research Libraries, 2015), which outlines six core information literacy concepts. Following the backward design model, participants will then identify information literacy learning outcomes and develop the outline for an assignment or activity that could be used to teach and assess information literacy. By the end of this self-paced, fully online course, participants will have developed an Action Plan for integrating information literacy into a course. 

Learning Outcomes
  • Demonstrate an expanded understanding of information literacy as a concept
  • Explain how the purposeful teaching of information literacy skills and concepts can improve student learning
  • Use the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education to identify gaps in student knowledge related to research, scholarship, and information use
  • Identify information literacy learning outcomes that connect to already existing course learning outcomes and support students’ ability to learn disciplinary ways of thinking
  • Employ instructional design strategies to develop or revise an assignment or activity in order to teach and assess information literacy
Participation Requirements

Participants interested in earning the Teaching Information Literacy Endorsement have three options for completion. More information on the endorsement can be found at: Teaching Information Literacy Endorsement.

Option A: Teaching Information Literacy Self-Paced Course

For this option, participants are enrolled in the self-paced Teaching Information Literacy CarmenCanvas course. After being enrolled in the course, participants must:

  • Complete all 6 modules of the course. In modules 1-5, this includes a requirement to post to the module discussion boards and submit a short reflection at the end of the module.
  • Complete and submit a participant workbook, with activities related to each module. The final component of the workbook, to be completed in Module 6, is an Information Literacy Action Plan.
  • Complete the pre-course and post-course surveys.

 

Estimated Time to Completion: 12-15 Hours

More information on this option: Teaching Information Literacy Course

Option B: Information Literacy Workshops

For this option, participants complete at least 12 hours of programming and/or consultation related to information literacy. Up to 11 hours can be earned by completing or attending information literacy workshops. Two types of workshops are available:

  • Information Literacy Virtual Workshops (synchronous via Zoom). Ten to twelve workshops are offered each academic year. Each separate workshop counts for one (1) hour. For information on upcoming workshops, go to: https://u.osu.edu/teachinginfolit/teaching-information-literacy-workshops/virtual-workshop-series/
  • Information Literacy On-Demand Workshops (asynchronous via Canvas). Workshops can be accessed at any time and are self-paced. Workshops count for between .5 and 1.5 hours, depending on the workshop(s) selected. For information on available on-demand workshops, go to: https://u.osu.edu/teachinginfolit/teaching-information-literacy-workshops/on-demand-asynchronous-workshops/

 

Participants may complete a combination of live and on-demand workshops.

After completing at least 11 hours of programming, participants can complete the endorsement by:

  • Attending an individual consultation with the Teaching and Learning Engagement Librarian and then submit an Information Literacy Action Plan, outlining goals and next steps for incorporating information literacy into their teaching or course design practices (1-2 hours).

For more information on this option, see: Teaching Information Literacy Workshops.

Option C: Teaching Information Literacy Cohort

For this option, participants are enrolled in the Teaching Information Literacy CarmenCanvas course. After being enrolled in the course, participants must:

  • Complete all 6 modules of the course over the period of the cohort (usually 4-5 weeks). In modules 1-5, this includes a requirement to post to the module discussion boards and submit a short reflection at the end of the module.
  • Attend 3-5 synchronous discussion sessions related to course modules. Dates TBD, based on cohort offerings.
  • Complete and submit a participant workbook, with activities related to each module. The final component of the workbook, to be completed in Module 6, is the Information Literacy Action Plan.

 

Cohort options are offered 1-2 times per year. For more information, see: Teaching Information Literacy Cohort.

 

VERIFICATION OF PARTICIPATION

The final teaching endorsement application will require you to upload a completion of criteria certificate from University Libraries.

 

Required Hours
12-15
Timeline for Completion
1-2 semesters

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Learn more about Endorsement requirements and offerings.

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Complete your required documentation.

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Program Elements

Title Delivery Method Hours Description
OPTION 1: Teaching Information Literacy Online Course
 Online Course 12.0

Complete Teaching Information Literacy CarmenCanvas course:

  • Module 1: The Information Environment and Information Literacy
  • Module 2: The Framework for Information Literacy (Part 1)
  • Module 3: The Framework for Information Literacy (Part 2)
  • Module 4: Identifying Learning Bottlenecks and Learning Outcomes
  • Module 5: Information Literacy Assignments, Activities, and Assessments
  • Module 6: Complete and Submit Information Literacy Action Plan
OPTION 2: Workshops and Consultation
 On-demand and Synchronous 12.0

Complete or attend 11 hours of Information Literacy Workshops

  •  On-Demand Workshops (Asynchronous via Carmen Canvas)
    • On-Demand Workshops range in length from .5 hours to 1.5 hours. 
  • Live, Virtual Workshops (Synchronous via Zoom)
    • Workshops are generally 1 hour in length.

 

Track workshop participation using Information Literacy Workshop Participation form.  

Attend an individual consultation and draft an Information Literacy Action Plan. The individual consultation and Action Plan count as 1 hour. 

OPTION 3: Cohort Option
 Online Course and Synchronous Cohort Meetings 15.0

Complete Teaching Information Literacy course:

  • Module 1: The Information Environment and Information Literacy
  • Module 2: The Framework for Information Literacy (Part 1)
  • Module 3: The Framework for Information Literacy (Part 2)
  • Module 4: Identifying Learning Bottlenecks and Learning Outcomes
  • Module 5: Information Literacy Assignments, Activities, and Assessments
  • Module 6: Information Literacy Action Plan
  • Attend 3-5 Synchronous Cohort Meetings

Complete and submit Participant Workbook and Information Literacy Action Plan