Information Seeking

Information Literacy:WHAT IS ALL THIS?

Finding a way through the word maze

LIB 640 Information Sources and ServicesSummer 2011

What Is Information Seeking? • In the simplest terms, information seeking

involves the search, retrieval, recognition, and application of meaningful content. This search may be explicit or implicit, the retrieval may be the result of specific strategies or serendipity, the resulting information may be embraced or rejected, the entire experience may be carried through to a logical conclusion or aborted in midstream, and there may be a million other potential results.

• Kelly Patricia Kingrey, Concepts of Information Seeking and Their Presence in the Practical Library Literature. Library Philosophy and Practice Vol. 4, No. 2 (Spring 2002)

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What is information seeking?

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Why Seek? Theory 1

ASK Hypothesis developed by Nicholas Belkin (Rutgers)•“. . . Anomalous States-of-Knowledge (abbreviated to ASK). . . . Situations in which the patrons’ knowledge are incomplete or limited in some way, and they need further information to get on, the patrons are seen to be in an anomalous state of knowledge.”

• Steen Ammentorp and Marianne Hummelshøj, “Ask a Librarian: Web-Based Reference Question Services: A Model for Development.” Paper presented at 11th NI&D Conference. Spring for information. Reykjavik, 30 May–1 June 2001. Retrieved 22. September, 2004. http://www.murraylib640.org/Ammentorp.doc

Nicholas Belkin

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Why Seek? Theory 2

The Uncertainty Principledeveloped by Carol Kulthau Rutgers)

• Uncertainty initiates the process of information seeking • Kuhlthau, Carol C.

ISP Presentation Retrieved June 14, 2007. http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/recent_presentations/loex/loex_presentation.ppt

Carol Kuhlthau

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Why Seek? Theory 3

The Gap that does not make sense (“Sense- making” hypothesis)

• “. . . Dervin presents to us a picture of a man walking along a road, when he comes upon an impassable hole in the ground. In this situation, he is obviously facing a gap. What is he to do now?”

• Jarkko Kari, “MAKING SENSE OF SENSE-MAKING: From metatheory to substantive theory in the context of paranormal information seeking.” Paper presented at Nordis-Net workshop (Meta)theoretical stands in studying library and information institutions: individual, organizational and societal aspects, November 12–15 1998, Oslo, Norway. Retrieved September 22, 2004. See also Dervin’s Sense-Making Methodology Sitehttp://www.paranet.fi/paradocs/tutkimuksia/kari1998a.pdf

Brenda Dervin

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Who Seeks? Theory 1

Anomalous State of Knowledge (ASK) hypothesis (Belkin): • “. . . patrons in problematic situations.”

• Steen Ammentorp and Marianne Hummelshøj, “Ask a Librarian: Web-Based Reference Question Services: A Model for Development.”

Marianne Hummelshøj Holm

Steen Ammentorp

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Who Seeks? Theory 2Kulthau’s Information Search Process:

• People experience the ISP [Information Search Process] holistically with an interplay of thoughts, feelings, and actions.

• Kuhlthau, Carol C. “An Overview of the Information Search Process.” Retrieved June 14, 2007. http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/information_search_process.htm

Carol Kuhlthau

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Who Seeks? Theory 3

Sense-Making Hypothesis:• “. . . [a] patron [who] is seen as being locked

in a situation unable to move further because of some kind of gap in his knowledge.” • Steen Ammentorp and Marianne Hummelshøj, “

Ask a Librarian: Web-Based Reference Question Services: A Model for Development.”

Brenda Dervin

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How Do They Seek? Theory 1

Belkin’s ASK:• “. . . users performing some activity feel that

they have a knowledge gap that cannot be filled directly, and consequently they engage into an information seeking process. . .”• Brajnik, Giorgio “

Information Seeking as Explorative Learning.” Retrieved Sept. 7th, 2003. http://www.bcs.org/upload/pdf/ewic_mi99_paper2.pdf

Giorgio BrajnikAssistant Professor in

Computer Science, University of Udine, Italy

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How Do They Seek? Theory 2

Kuhlthau’s ISP:• “The critical component of the

ISP is the person’s own formulation of a focus that involves gaining a personal perspective of the topic or subject while using a variety of sources of information. In other words, users are constructing their own understandings through inquiry.”• Carol Kuhlthau, “Research Interests.” Last Updated May

2011. Retrieved June 10, 2011.• http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kuhlthau/research_interests.

htm

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How Do They Seek? Theory 3

Dervin’s Sense-Making:• “ . . . the patron is seen as being locked in a

situation unable to move further because of some kind of gap in his knowledge. However the patron tries to bridge this gap by asking questions and using the answers to closing the gap, making new sense. As Belkin, Dervin sees the nature of the information need as something situational changing as the patrons tries to bridge the gap.”• Ammentorp and Hummelshøj, “

Ask a Librarian: Web-Based Reference Question Services: A Model for Development.”

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Who, How, Why?

“person-in-context”

“active search for information”

“stress/coping model”

• Wilson, Tom and Christina Walsh. “A revised general model of information behaviour” ch. 7 of “Information Behaviour: An Inter-Disciplinary Perspective.” British Library Research and Innovation Report 10. A report to the British Library Research & Innovation Centre on a review of the literature.Retrieved Sept. 8th, 2003.http://informationr.net/tdw/publ/infbehav/

Professor Tom Wilson

BiographyResearch

Cats

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Another Why to Consider

Self-Generated or Imposed?• internally motivated by personal context

OR• thought up by one person then given to

someone else to resolve • Gross, Melissa. “

Imposed information seeking in public libraries and school library media centers: a common behaviour?” Information Research 6.2 (January 2001). Retrieved Sept. 8th, 2003.http://informationr.net/ir/6-2/paper100.html

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Process of SearchingKulthau’s ISP:

• Carol C. Kuhlthau, Jannica Heinström and Ross J. Todd, “The ‘information search process’ revisited: is the model still useful?” Information Research VOL. 13 NO. 4, DECEMBER, 2008.

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Information Literacy

information literacy (IL) • Skill in finding the information one

needs, including an understanding of

how libraries are organized,

familiarity with the resources they

provide (including information format

s and automated search tools), and

knowledge of commonly used research

techniques. More

• ODLIS

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What is Information Literacy?

QUILT’s definition17

Why teach information literacy?

21st-Century learners may be tech-savvy, but they still can be overwhelmed:• . . . Today’s learners have grown up

in a “wired” world. They have constant access to global information resources through computers and mobile devices, and they expect to be able to retrieve information instantly. This bold new generation questions the concept of cognitive authority as mob indexing an Wikipedia permeate the web. Learners are now surrounded by information, whether in print, online, or in sound bites of information.• Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media

Programs. Chapter 1: Developing Visions for Learning. IV. The 21st-Century Learner, p. 11.

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What is information literacy?

Information Literacy• Information Literacy is a

transformational process in which the learner needs to find, understand, evaluate, and use information in various forms to create for personal, social or global purposes.

• Information Literacy shares a fundamental set of core thinking- and problem-solving meta-skills with other disciplines. Authentic cross-disciplinary problems which include observation and inference, analysis of symbols and models, comparison of perspectives, and assessment of the rhetorical context, engage students in developing mastery information literacy over time.

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Another concept

What is Information Competence?• information competence is the fusing or

the integration of library literacy, computer literacy, media literacy, technological literacy, ethics, critical thinking, and communication skills

• Information Competence in the CSU. A Report Submitted toCommission on Learning Resources and Instructional TechnologyWork Group on Information CompetenceCLRIT Task 6.1. Susan C. Curzon, ChairDecember 1995

• http://www.calstate.edu/ls/Archive/info_comp_report.shtml#What Is

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Literacy, Competence or Competency?

Information literacy • also known as information competence or

information competency is a set of skills that helps students sift through the mass of information now available to them in order to locate and retrieve what is relevant and reliable for their research needs.

• Simply put, an information literate student understands how to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information effectively.[1]

• Teaching Information Literacy at Pasadena City College

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Adding to the confusion of terms!

Several other terms and combinations of terms have been also used by different authors: • ‘infoliteracy’, ‘informacy’, ‘information

empowerment’, ‘information competence’, ‘information competency’, ‘information competencies’, ‘information literacy skills’, ‘information literacy and skills’, ‘skills of information literacy’, ‘information literacy competence’, ‘information literacy competencies’, ‘information competence skills’, ‘information handling skills’, ‘information problem solving’, ‘information problem solving skills’, ‘information fluency’, ‘information mediacy’ and even ‘information mastery’ • Sirje Virkus: “

Information literacy in Europe: a literature review” Information Research, Vol. 8 No. 4, July 2003

Sirje Virkus

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Now also as Information Literacies

Why the plural?• The use of the term

“information literacies” emphasizes the complexity and multiplicity of skills and strategies involved in finding and using information.• Dianne Oberg: “Promoting Information

Literacies: A Focus on Inquiry.” 70th IFLA General Conference and Council, 22-27 August 2004, Buenos Aires, Argentinahttp://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla70/papers/088e-Oberg.pdf

Dr. Dianne Oberg

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A related term often used outside library media circles

What is inquiry-based learning?• An old adage states: “Tell me and I forget,

show me and I remember, involve me and I understand.” . . . Inquiry implies involvement that leads to understanding. Furthermore, involvement in learning implies possessing skills and attitudes that permit you to seek resolutions to questions and issues while you construct new knowledge.•

Inquiry-based learning

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Project, Problem, and Inquiry-based Learning

Explore the Approaches • Project-based learning, problem-based

learning, and inquiry-based learning all three closely relate to the information processing approach. They all fit well with technology-rich learning environments where the focus is not on the hardware and software, but on the learning experience. • Project, Problem, and Inquiry-based Learning

http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic43.htm

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Another Related Term

Resource-Based Learning • Resource-based learning actively involves

students, teachers and teacher-librarians in the effective use of a wide range of print, non print and human resources . . . Students who use a wide range of resources in various mediums for learning have the opportunity to approach a theme, issue or topic of study in ways which allow for a range of learning styles and access to the theme or topic via cognitive or affective appeals. More• Resource-Based Learning: Approaches

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Yet another related termLifelong learning

• Lifelong learning is the process of acquiring and expanding knowledge, skills, and dispositions throughout your life to foster well-being. It isn't about taking an adult pottery class or reading a nonfiction book occasionally. It's about the decisions you make and the problems you solve in everyday life. From enrolling in an structured, formal education program to considering whether to believe an infomercial's gimmick, lifelong learning takes many forms.

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21st Century Literacies• 21st Century Literacies refer to the skills

needed to flourish in today's society and in the future. Today discrete disciplines have emerged around information, media, multicultural, and visual literacies. It is the combination of literacies that can better help K-12 students and adult learners address and solve the issues that confront them. • http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/21stcent/index.html

And another! 21st Century Literacies

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Better known as 21st Century Skills

Used also by30

What about Kentucky?31

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How do we put it all together?Use the school library media center!

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After all, why are we doing this?

Dr. Ross Todd, Rutgers University:• The destination is not an information literature

student, but rather, the development of a knowledgeable and knowing person, one who is able to engage effectively with a rich and complex information world, and who is able to develop new understandings, insights and ideas.• School Libraries as Knowledge Spaces: Connections and Actio

ns; Outcomes and Evidence Powerpoint presentation for SLAV conference, Victoria, Australia

The School Library Association of Victoria

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Shifting the focus of School Libraries

From: collections, position and advocacy

Through: connections, actions and evidence-based practice centering on a shared philosophy and process of inquiry learning

To: making a real difference to student learning outcomes

Developing knowledge and understanding

A thinking community

From Ross Todd’s PPT School Libraries as Knowledge Spaces: Connections and Actions; Outcomes and Evidence

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The Library as a Knowledge Space, not an Information

Place

Ross Todd

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Student Learning through Ohio School Libraries (2004)• Students appear to indicate that the school library –

not as a passive supply agency, but as an instructional agency – helps them substantially in their learning.

• What is clearly perceived to be of help is the library’s part in engaging students in an active process of building their own understanding and knowledge – the library as an agency for active learning.

• Review of the Findings Powerpoint presentation.

• Researchers: Dr. Ross Todd and Dr. Carol Kuhlthau, Rutgers

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Keith Curry Lance

What Research Tells Us About the Importance of School Libraries• At this point . . . there is a clear consensus in

the results now [2002] available for eight states*: School libraries are a powerful force in the lives of America's children. The school library is one of the few factors whose contribution to academic achievement has been documented empirically, and it is a contribution that cannot be explained away by other powerful influences on student performance. • White House Conference on School Libraries • *Now 19 states and 1 Canadian province—see

Another summary of impact studies38

http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.asp

Mission of the school library?Empowering Learners:

Guidelines for School Library Media Program• The mission of the school

library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of information. The school library media specialist (SLMP) empowers students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information . . .

• Empowering Learners, p. 8.

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A European viewSchool Library and School Librarianship

• The stream of information from TV channels, Internet, CD-ROMs, computer programmes etc. is unending. If the students, when they become adult citizens, are not to feel lost and helpless in the face of such rich sources of information, they must learn [to] devise personal strategies for information retrieval while they are still at school. Information Literacy and “strategies for independent learning skill development” are key components of any school library.

• From a White Paper by Gert Larsen, School Library Advisor, Albertslund, Denmark, p. 7

• Part of Project GrandSlam - General Research and New Development in School Libraries As Multimedia Learning Centres

A previous project in the same series

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The Key Concept?Competence and comfort with

information and information sources• Have you ever heard of Data Smog? A term coined by

author David Shenk, it refers to the idea that too much information can create a barrier in our lives.

• Information literacy is the solution to Data Smog. It allows us to cope by giving us the skills to know when we need information and where to locate it effectively and efficiently. It includes the technological skills needed to use the modern library as a gateway to information. It enables us to analyze and evaluate the information we find, thus giving us confidence in using that information to make a decision or create a product.

• Introduction to Information Literacy, Association for College and Research Libraries (a division of the American Library Association)