Writing and Information Literacy Outcomes for First-Year College Students

Posted by on February 28, 2004

[posted from College Prep Round Table listserv]

The next College Prep Round Table will be on March 17th (9 AM – 11 AM) at Philadelphia University. The program will be held in Downs Hall’s Auditorium (see the campus map – http://www.philau.edu/directions/campuslarge.html). Directions to Philadelphia University can found on their Internet site – http://www.philau.edu/directions/maplarge.html. Below you will find the description of the CPRT’s discussion.

Title:
“(Too) Great Expectations?” Writing and Information Literacy Outcomes for First-Year College Students”

Presenters from Philadelphia University:
Jordana Shane, Reference Librarian
John Eliason, Director of Writing Across the Curriculum

Overview:
The presenters will review popular definitions of Information Literacy (IL) and explore the idea of Information Literacy in the K-16 continuum. The interplay between writing and Information Literacy will be addressed, giving particular attention to how, when well designed, assignments can reinforce IL and writing skills to foster critical thinking. Attendees will be invited to participate in a discussion of perceived levels of IL integration into the curricula of their own schools. Opportunities for partnerships and collaboration among faculty, administrators, and librarians will be identified. The information literacy program approach used at Philadelphia University will be used as a departure point to spur this discussion.

Background:
Both the American Association of School Librarians and the Association of College and Research Libraries have outlined sets of skills and competencies that have long been important to educators at every level. These organizations have formally done so using the concept “Information Literacy.” Beyond academia, “lifelong learning” and “information literacy in the workplace” are also hot topics today. The act of writing, including the completion of written research projects, often employs all aspects of information literacy and has therefore been chosen as a vital aspect of this presentation.

Please RSVP me ASAP (thomasbutler@philadelphiafutures.org or tombutler19119@yahoo.com). If you plan to bring and/or make annoucements please be prepared to present for 40 people.

Thank you and we’ll see you on the 17th at Philadelphia University.