It's Academic

In a few weeks, I will be co-moderating a discussion on the new(ish) ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education at the PaLA Northeast Chapter’s Spring Workshop. (BTW, you can register here: http://www.palibraries.org/event/2015northeastchapterworkshop) By design, the participants themselves will identify the specific topics they’d like to discuss. One thing I know, however, is that it’s likely to be a lively and interesting discussion. As I prepare, I’m wondering if anyone reading would like to comment on an aspect of the Framework. I know it’s early, but have you had any successes to report? Did a faculty colleague seem particularly interested in some aspect of the Framework? Has your department given serious thought about how to implement it into your IL instruction at the session or program level?

One of the things we heard again and again during the development of the Framework was that it would make it easier to engage our faculty colleagues in conversation about issues related to information literacy. It’s still early, but I’m glad to say my own experience so far supports this idea. At the beginning of this semester, a colleague told me he wanted to rework the assignments in his class and asked if I’d be interested in brainstorming ideas together. Of course I would! Specifically, he wanted to incorporate a social media experience into the course. And, wouldn’t you know it, the Framework proved to be a helpful reference point for us. Mainly, it helped him articulate the skills and dispositions he was trying to address in the assignment.

Of course, I’ve only mentioned practical issues related to the Framework. There are also really interesting discussions happening about the theoretical underpinnings of the Framework, namely threshold concept theory and the concept of metaliteracy. Personally, I still have some reservations about using threshold concept theory as a basis for the Framework. Still, in the end, I don’t think it makes the Framework any less useful as a (yep!) framework for thinking about information literacy. Even if I’m not sure that the six concepts are “threshold concepts,” I am convinced that they are six very useful concepts. If we can introduce students to them and design experiences where students get to grapple with them first hand, the students will benefit, not only during their academic careers, but also in their professional and personal lives.

The 2015 PA Forward Information Literacy Summit Planning Committee is pleased to announce that registration for our July 29, 2015 Summit – “Framing the Value of Information Literacy” – is now open at http://www.palibraries.org/event/2015PAFILS.

You do not need to be a member of PaLA to register and attend!
ACT 48 credits will be available for those who need them.

The event will be held at the Paterno Library, Penn State University, State College, PA and our two keynote presentations are:

ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education: “Understanding the ACRL Framework for Student Learning” Chair, ACRL Student Learning and Information Literacy Committee presented by Merinda Kaye Hensley Instructional Services Librarian, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

AND

PA Model Curriculum: “Making the Model Curriculum Work for You: It’s Not Just for the Runway Models,” presented by Allison Burrell Vice President, PA School Librarians Association District Librarian and Media Specialist, Southern Columbia Area School District and Cathi Fuhrman Hempfield School District Library Department Supervisor

Our thirteen breakout sessions have also been finalized, and you can find full details on the registration site under Breakout Session Descriptions & Presenter Information.

If you would like to book a room at the Nittany Lion Inn, we have secured a discounted Summit rate. Reservations must be made by June 28, 2015. More information about the program, hotel discount code, and parking at Penn State are available on the reservation website under Program Details, Description, Parking, & Hotel Information: Registration will remain open through July 29, or until capacity is reached.  Please visit  http://www.palibraries.org/event/2015PAFILS for more information!

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, Governor, through the College and  Research Division (https://crdpala.org/) of PaLA. Show your appreciation by  becoming a member of PaLA! And if you are a member – thank you!