Information Literacy: Retooling Evaluation Skills in the Electronic Information Environment

Abstract

Electronic information has the potential to impact many of the pedagogical aspects of education and research. As the virtual library becomes a reality on every workstation, strategies for understanding and coping with electronic information can greatly assist students in transforming data into knowledge. The complex information environment to which students are exposed once basic computer skills are learned, however, requires that we find ways to help students develop appropriate responses to the vast amounts of information at their fingertips. Information literacy, the subset of critical thinking skills used to evaluate information, can be integrated into classroom activities in order to more fully exploit electronic resources and to use these resources effectively. This article will deal with the issues involved when information seeking behavior for classroom and/or research activities has become content critical and will explore some of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the electronic information environment.