5 Components of Information Literacy
28/01/2014
Information literacy is crucial for media literacy. This explanatory video by the Seminole State Library of Florida presents the five components of information literacy and explains how this is related to freedom of speech and freedom of the media since it deals also with recognizing the limits and protections of free speech and censorship
What is “information literacy”? According to the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) it is “the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the information". This explanatory short video explains that information literacy can be divided into five separate components: identify; find; evaluate; apply and acknowledge.
"Identify" is about identify the nature and extend of the information needed, as well as the sources and the difference among different sources. "Find" means the ability of finding the needed information effectively among the variety of existing sources. "Evaluate" is about the ability to evaluate the information found and its sources critically. The forth component - "apply" - is about applying the information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose. The fifth component of information literacy - "acknowledge" - is about acknowledging the sources of information you use, meaning understanding the ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues surrounding information. This last aspect also relates to freedom of speech and freedom of the media since it may deal with recognizing the limits and protections of free speech and censorship.
