Standards for Building Information Literacy
In order to build and improve a learner's ability to effectively and appropriately participate in the multiple facets of information literacy, it is essential to take into consideration the types of standards that are available to help guide such a process. The AASL and ISTE have developed guidelines and sets of standards for improving information literacy. In using these standards, lesson plans and instructional activities can be developed that will help students become more versed in and successful with information literacy. In the article "The Teacher-Librarian as Curriculum Leader," Jody Howard (2010) asserts that "the learner must be engaged in the learning process" (pg. 93). Engaging the learner in the learning process is critical. This can be accomplished through the collaborative use of the standards so that educators and media specialists can "support the students through learning activities that help them to use higher-level thinking skills, the critical thinking skills" (Howard, 2010, pg. 93). In conjunction with information literacy, critical thinking and higher order thinking skills are crucial if learners are to participate in today's tech-focused world and to compete on a global scale for their careers and their futures.
AASL & The 21st Century Learner
The AASL identifies four standards as the pentacle of information literacy and in which the 21st Century Learner must be versed and literate.
Standard #1: Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge. Standard #2: Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge. Standard #3: Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society. Standard #4: Pursue personal and aesthetic growth. |
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AASL & the Crosswalk
The American Association of School Librarians has created and invaluable resource called the "Learning Standards & Common Core State Standards Crosswalk. The purpose of the crosswalk is to assist librarians and educators understand how the 21st Century Learner Standards and the Common Core Curriculum align and work together to provide a cohesive vision for initiating and improving informational literacy. A sample Crosswalk is also provided to give insight into the materials available in the Crosswalk. Follow the link below to access the AASL's website and the variety of Crosswalk materials that they have made available.
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ISTE & Standards for Students
In the same vein of standards as the AASL, the ISTE has also developed a set of six standards that are important for today's learner. The ISTE standards focus on bringing information literacy into the forefront through the use of creativity, collaboration, fluency, and other areas deemed critical for learners to master.
Standard #1: Creativity & Innovation Standard #2: Communication & Collaboration Standard #3: Research & Information Fluency Standard #4: Critical thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making Standard #5: Digital Citizenship Standard #6: Technology Operation & Concepts |
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