NFORMATION LITERACY :
EDUCATION :
DATABASE TRAINING:
When Should Information Literacy Skills be Taught



The discussion of information literacy and database use continues on
Trinet as it is pointed out by one professor that this cannot be
included in courses on other specific subjects as there is no time and
that this learning should not be a one shot deal.


[Trinet is a hospitality and tourism discussion group for faculty,
doctoral students and professionals in these fields.]


I sent the response a bit below.


Background Reading About OVIDSP

<http://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0801D&L=MEDLIB-L&T=0&F=&S=&P=14661>


The post follows:


Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:19:02 -0500 (EST)
From: David P. Dillard <jwne@...>
Cc: Trinet-L <trinet-l@...>
Subject: RE: Google and Web 2 - the white bread of learning?



Information literacy is certainly the phrase commonly applied to these skills
and I fully agree that these are a group of skills that need to start very
early in the education of students, certainly by middle school. The problem
that illustrates the seriousness of this situation, is that most K-12 teachers
I have encountered outside of my work at Temple, quite a few, have had no idea
that public libraries in many states including Pennsylvania and New Jersey
offer database access at the library and remotely through borrower account
numbers and PINS so that the teacher and their students can be using them to do
their research. If teachers lack knowledge of their availability, they are not
teaching how to use these tools to the students in their classrooms. In the
last three or four years, I actually encountered a high school science teacher,
back in college for a second degree who had no idea how to use a computer and
wanted me to find and print out a number of articles for her so she could do
her term papers for two courses. She did not use email, online catalogs,
databases or word processing or any other computer application or tool. To her
a mouse is a rodent that likes cheese.


EDUCATION: TECHNOLOGY : EDUCATION: K-12: TEACHERS:
Some Opinionated Comments Regarding Technology Skills in the K-12 Learning
Experience
<https://listserv.temple.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0512&L=net-gold&P=59150>


I have spoken at length to help desk people at databanks like EBSCO, CSA and
OVID about their need to make selected databases available at no or low cost in
K-12 schools and campaign to get teachers to use them. Indeed, I published this
article in a Philadelphia based trade publication of the database/databank
industry at the request of the editor of this publication:


Title:Teaching database research skills to students: a view from the
trenches
Authors:Dillard, David1
Source:NFAIS Newsletter; March 2002, Vol. 44 Issue 2, p6, 3p
Document Type:Article
Subject Terms:SEARCHING behavior
INFORMATION literacy
LIBRARY orientation
Author-Supplied Keywords:Information and reference skills
Abstract:Unfortunately in this day of sophisticated online databases,
the Internet, periodical aggregators, and online libraries of
electronic books, undergraduate students entering college are doing
well if they have learned something about the Dewey Decimal
System or the Readers Guide to Periodical Literature or even how to use
a card catalog. Argues that curriculum on bibliographic
training varies in the elementary and secondary schools of today, with
the time devoted to teaching research skills in these
environments being subject to other pressures and concerns. Analyzes
the very low common denominator which exists in the teaching of
a complex and diverse set of research skills to pre-college students.
Describes search skills needed by today's students, and
examines the role that vendors and database providers can play in
bringing students, teachers, and information professionals in
greater numbers and more disciplines into the fold of database users.
Notes:Publisher's URL: http://www.nfais.org
Update Code: 3802
Author Affiliations:1Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
ISSN:0090-0893
Accession Number:ISTA3800849


I have been on this campaign for a long time:


Title:Physical education research--computerized databases in an
interdisciplinary field
Authors:Clever, Elaine Cox; Dillard, David P.
Source:Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, v. 64
(September 1993) p. 67-72.
Descriptors:Physical education--Research; Online searching; Information
systems
Language:English
Document Type:Feature
ISSN:07303084
Entry Date:19931007
Accession Number:BEDI93024581


and


Title:What Do CD-ROM Users Really Need?
Author(s):Clever, Elaine Cox; Dillard, David P.
Source:Information Services and Use, v11 n3 p141-53 1991.
ISSN:0167-5265
Descriptors:Academic Libraries, Databases, Error Patterns, Higher
Education, Information Needs, Library Instruction, Library
Personnel, Library Role, Optical Data Disks, Search Strategies, User
Satisfaction (Information), Users (Information)
Identifiers:Examples
Abstract:Considers the success and satisfaction of end users' searches
on CD-ROM systems. Topics discussed include introductory
training lessons; the selection of appropriate databases; search
strategies; and implications for the role of library staff and for
staffing patterns. Examples of end-user search techniques and common
errors are included. (11 references) (LRW)
Language:English
Publication Type:Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Opinion Papers
Journal Code:CIJMAY1992
Entry Date:1992
Accession Number:EJ438063


and


Title:HPER {health, physical education, and recreation} for help:
selection and reference tools for a new field
Author(s):Clever, Elaine Cox; Dillard, David P..
Source:The Reference Librarian, no33 (1991) p. 143-50. (Peer Reviewed
Journal)
ISSN:0276-3877
Language:English
Subjects:Health sciences literature--Evaluation; Sports
literature--Evaluation
Document Type:Bibliography
Accession Number:BLIB92000498
Release Date:19920116




I certainly agree that this cannot and should not be a one shot learning
experience, as search tools change substantially regularly, as folks on this
list who use OVID for CAB will soon find out on or after February 4, 2008.
Lessons taught about information literacy one or two years ago will not have
covered, perhaps, link resolvers embedded in database search results or cross
platform federated search tools, that are for some libraries very recent
additions to the tools we provide information seekers. Every year brings new
information literacy skills to learn, so the learning needs to start in K-12
and needs to be both expanded and updated from then on and it would be very
important to have courses in college undergraduate and graduate programs
devoted to information literacy and research skills that include much content
regarding the use of databases, how to conduct a survey, design a
quesstionnaire and so forth, but the learning about databases and internet
search tools needs to be substantial in such courses.



--------------------------------


Related Net-Gold post:


EDUCATION: COLLEGE: STUDENTS :
LIBRARIES: ACADEMIC :
RESEARCH: TECHNIQUES:
Why Johnny Does Not Use the Library
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Net-Gold/message/22127>


This post of a book chapter may also be useful to some of the readers of
this post.


SPORTS: PSYCHOLOGY :
RESEARCH: METHODS AND TECHNIQUES :
DATABASES:
Database and Internet Search Tools of Use to Scholars and Students in
Sport Psychology


Database and Internet Search Tools of Use to Scholars and Students in
Sport Psychology

This article is a manuscript that was requested by
Michael Sachs, PhD at Temple University
Professor of Sports Psychology at Temple.

Dr. Michael Sachs
Ph.D.
132 Pearson Hall
215-204-8718
msachs@...

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Net-Gold/message/10622>




Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jwne@...
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A rather different "search engine".


Ms Dewey
<http://www.msdewey.com/>