Basic Information Literacy Skills Training

Objectives:
• Define information literacy and its importance
• Identify the components of information literacy
• Understand the information cycle
• Recognise different types of information sources
• Apply basic information needs assessment

Topics:
• What is information literacy?
• The information cycle
• Types of information sources (primary, secondary, tertiary)
• Identifying information needs
• Overview of information literacy standards (e.g., ACRL)

Objectives:
• Distinguish between different information sources
• Access library catalogues and databases
• Use search engines effectively
• Understand the role of libraries and information centres
• Evaluate source accessibility

Topics:
• Libraries and information centres
• Online catalogues and databases
• Search engines and advanced search techniques
• Open access vs. subscription resources
• Ethical use of information resources

Objectives:
• Develop effective search strategies
• Use Boolean operators and search modifiers
• Apply keywords and subject headings
• Refine search results
• Use citation tracking and related records

Topics:
• Search strategy formulation
• Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)
• Keyword selection and subject headings
• Truncation, wildcards, and phrase searching
• Citation searching and reference mining

Objectives:
• Apply the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose)
• Identify bias and perspective
• Distinguish between scholarly and popular sources
• Evaluate websites and online content
• Recognise misinformation and disinformation

Topics:
• The CRAAP test
• Scholarly vs. popular sources
• Identifying bias
• Evaluating websites (domain, authorship, timeliness)
• Fact-checking techniques

Objectives:
• Understand copyright and fair use
• Define plagiarism and its consequences
• Apply citation styles correctly
• Practice paraphrasing and quoting
• Respect intellectual property

Topics:
• Copyright and fair use
• Plagiarism: definition and avoidance
• Citation styles (APA, MLA, Harvard)
• Paraphrasing and summarising
• Academic integrity policies

Objectives:
• Use reference management tools
• Create bibliographies and reference lists
• Organise research notes and files
• Apply filing and tagging methods
• Understand metadata basics

Topics:
• Reference management software (Zotero, Mendeley)
• Creating bibliographies manually
• Note-taking strategies
• File organisation and tagging
• Introduction to metadata

Objectives:
• Identify digital information sources
• Use social media for research
• Evaluate digital content critically
• Understand algorithms and filter bubbles
• Apply digital literacy skills

Topics:
• Digital vs. print information
• Social media as an information source
• Algorithms and filter bubbles
• Digital footprints and privacy
• Critical consumption of digital media

Objectives:
• Develop research questions
• Use the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome)
• Narrow and broaden research topics
• Write a problem statement
• Align questions with information needs

Topics:
• Formulating research questions
• PICO and other frameworks
• Topic narrowing and broadening
• Writing problem statements
• Aligning questions with sources

Objectives:
• Retrieve relevant information efficiently
• Synthesise information from multiple sources
• Identify gaps in information
• Use synthesis matrices
• Present findings coherently

Topics:
• Advanced retrieval techniques
• Synthesis of information
• Identifying gaps
• Synthesis matrices
• Summarising and reporting

Objectives:
• Apply critical thinking to information
• Analyse arguments and evidence
• Recognise logical fallacies
• Use information to support arguments
• Make informed decisions

Topics:
• Critical thinking models
• Analysing arguments
• Logical fallacies
• Evidence-based reasoning
• Decision-making using information

Objectives:
• Apply information literacy in professional contexts
• Use information for problem-solving
• Understand workplace information policies
• Communicate information effectively
• Collaborate on information projects

Topics:
• Workplace information needs
• Problem-solving with information
• Information policies in organisations
• Effective communication of information
• Collaborative information projects

Objectives:
• Complete a capstone information literacy project
• Demonstrate all skills learned
• Present findings to peers
• Reflect on learning journey
• Identify areas for further development

Topics:
• Capstone project guidelines
• Project work time
• Presentations
• Peer feedback
• Course review and reflection