Jul 02 2009
About
The College of Charleston Libraries promotes information literacy and life-long learning by providing literacy, information, technology and education (LITE) sessions to the campus community. Sessions are designed to to integrate information literacy education into the academic disciplines. A typical presentation integrates social networking and Web 2.0 features (collaborative tools like GoogleDocs, blogging and micro-blogging, multimedia presentations) into Library services to enhance and complement teaching and learning, and to facilitate academic community on campus. Each hour and a half session offers insight into these areas including an explanation of concepts, demonstration of specific tools, and practical use as supported by best practices and successful application. The LITE series engenders innovation through collaboration and active participation. We focus on free sites and Open Source tools that build community by inviting users to build on common purposes and interests. Sessions are facilitated by instructors who have unique insight, interesting experiences, or special knowledge and capability in such areas. These sessions are open to faculty, students, campus organizations, staff, and Friends of the Library.
What is Information Literacy?
Information literacy allows individuals to identify, search, locate, retrieve, organize and critically evaluate information from the range of sources and use it effectively. The LITE sessions are informed by standards and guidelines of information literacy developed by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). These standards focus on students in higher education at all levels. The standards also list a range of outcomes for assessing student progress toward information literacy. The Information Literacy Outcomes (Summary) provided by the CUNY Council of Chief Librarians Information Literacy White Paper, 4/16/2001 provides a clear summary of the ACRL guidelines.
Why Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 technologies support constructivist educational practices that promote active and experiential learning.
We know. What exactly does it mean? At its core, Web 2.0 just refers to a trend among sites and applications to promote sharing and interoperability. MIT professor Tim Berners-Lee, one of the Web’s chief architects, once said that term Web 2.0 is just a bit of jargon, but he also noted that its spirit of connecting people and furthering the exchange of information between them is “what the Web was supposed to be all along.”
21st-century learners engaged with Web 2.0 technologies are immersed in new modes of communication, participation, networking and sharing information. The ability to navigate these environments is a crucial skill in the 21st Century, and one that can lead to transformative experiences through self-directed learning. We offer practical and immersive experience in collaborating on content, organizing data, sharing media, and developing curricula through new communication tools, social networking applications and even virtual online worlds.
Would You Like to Share Your Expertise?
If you have session suggestions, would like to contribute your expertise or experience at a LITE Workshop, or be a contributor to our blog please contact Jolanda-Pieta (Joey) van Arnhem at vanarnhemj@cofc.edu or 843-953-3604.
