ESF 200 - Information Literacy Course Syllabus

Subject Area(s):

• Higher Ed: General

Grade Level(s):

• First Year
• Lower level
• Upper Level

Description:

Syllabus for one-credit information literacy class offered by Moon Library at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The course is required by approximately half of the students at SUNY ESF, and others are welcome to take it as well.

Goals & Objectives:

The goal of the course is to develop students' "information literacy" skills as defined by the American Library Association (ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards).

Materials:

• Computer use including online access.
• Availability of print and electronic library resources.  

Procedures:

This one-credit course is taught during the first five weeks of the semester.  Ideally, this class is taken during the freshman or sophomore year.

Assessment:

Students are graded on a variety of assignments including a final bibliography project.

Supporting Files:

• ESF 200_syllabus_full_2007.pdf
  

Standards:

ACRL Standards (Higher Education IL Standards)

Determines the nature and extent of information needed

• Defines and articulates the need for information
• Identifies a variety of types and formats of potential sources for information
• Considers the costs and benefits of acquiring the needed information
• Reevaluates the nature and extent of the information need

Accesses needed information effectively and efficiently

• Selects the most appropriate investigative methods or information retrieval systems for accessing the needed information
• Constructs and implements effectively-designed search strategies
• Retrieves information online or in person using a variety of methods
• Refines the search strategy if necessary
• Extracts, records, and manages the information and its sources

Evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system

• Summarizes the main ideas to be extracted from the information gathered
• Articulates and applies initial criteria for evaluating both the information and its sources
• Synthesizes main ideas to construct new concepts
• Compares new knowledge with prior knowledge to determine the value added, contradictions, or other unique characteristics of the information
• Determines whether the new knowledge has an impact on the individual?s value system and takes steps to reconcile differences
• Validates understanding and interpretation of the information through discourse with other individuals, subject-area experts, and/or practitioners
• Determines whether the initial query should be revised

Uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose

• Applies new and prior information to the planning and creation of a particular product or performance
• Revises the development process for the product or performance
• Communicates the product or performance effectively to others

Understands many of the economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally

• Understands many of the ethical, legal and socio-economic issues surrounding information and information technology
• Follows laws, regulations, institutional policies, and etiquette related to the access and use of information resources
• Acknowledges the use of information sources in communicating the product or performance