Diagnosing Spanish literature bachelor students’ information literacy in digital environments

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Cid ◽  
Juan D. Machin-Mastromatteo ◽  
Javier Tarango

Purpose The purpose of this study was to adapt and implement the Association of College and Research Library’s (ACRL’s) Research Competency Guidelines for Literatures in English for designing and employing a diagnostic survey about basic information literacy (IL) skills to study how 42 students were familiar with such skills. This 40-item survey included questions about students’ self-perception of their information skills and a test for evaluating their basic IL skills. Design/methodology/approach This research focused on integrating IL into a bachelor program in Spanish literature to identify the IL skills that students were familiar with and then determine if there was a relationship among their IL skills, their academic performance and their favorable conditions as students (have a good number of books at home, a personal computer, internet connection and proficiency in a second language). Findings The average number of correct answers ranged from regular to low; moreover, the authors compared self-perception results before and after the IL test, proving that such test negatively affected their self-perception. Students were mostly familiar with the skill of selecting information, and the inferential analysis showed that there were no notable relationships among either the IL test results and students’ academic performance or regarding their favorable conditions as students. This made evident the need of promoting ACRL’s Guidelines, particularly among literature professors, to raise awareness of their existence, as they are a useful starting point for designing contents and activities to develop IL. Originality/value Little research has been conducted about implementing IL in bachelor programs on literature to determine their information skills and behaviors in digital environments. Apart from grounding the research in specialized sources about research in such discipline, the authors have adapted ACRL’s Guidelines to develop a diagnostic survey that may be useful for professors in these areas and academic librarians in general. It might be useful for librarians to be familiar with the nuances of the results the authors gathered to provide better support for their users from the discipline of literature.

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terri Artemchik

Purpose This paper aims to explore innovative ways to integrate business information literacy and database instruction into courses that require in-depth research. Design/methodology/approach This paper outlines the use of the instructional design process to effectively develop specialized Guide on the Side (GotS) tutorials for upper-level business students. Findings Students valued the interactive nature of the GotS tutorials and appreciated that the instruction was at point of need. Research limitations/implications This paper describes one librarian’s journey of creating interactive tutorials with the instructional design process. It is a starting point for other academic librarians looking to embed tutorials in courses. Originality/value GotS is an interactive tutorial software and librarians are looking for effective ways to incorporate online tutorials into their information literacy instruction.


2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 607-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki Lawal ◽  
Stephen Akintunde

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential role of information literacy (IL) within the changing context of the e-learning environment at the University of Jos in recent years. It focuses and emphasises the role of the University library in facilitating teaching and learning through the use of e-learning platforms in teaching information retrieval skills. The paper aims to identify gaps in students’ information skills that could be addressed through IL instruction. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a case study research design while the methodology involved the administration of structured questionnaires to the two groups of respondents. Findings – Findings from the study provide useful insights to the skills challenges experienced by students and point to a need for effective collaboration between the library, faculty and management in order to promote a better approach to learning at the institution. Originality/value – By emphasising the role of the library, the paper contributes to previous studies on e-learning at the University and provides a basis for further research in this regard.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Nadkarni ◽  
Richard Teare

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to profile the Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) theme issue “Expo 2020: What will be the impact on Dubai?” with reference to the experiences of the theme editor and writing team. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editor to reflect on the rationale for the theme issue question, the starting point, the selection of the writing team and material and the editorial process. Findings This paper provides a framework to facilitate discussion between academics and practitioners engaged with Dubai’s Expo 2020, identifies ways of improving competitiveness as an events destination and contributes to thinking about sustainable development before and after the event. The outcomes of a broad-ranging collaboration yield fresh insights, a deeper understanding of the issues and an array of possible responses to the theme issue question. Practical implications The theme issue outcomes provide lines of enquiry for others to explore and they reinforce the value of WHATT’s approach to collaborative working and writing. Originality/value The collaborative work reported in this theme issue offers a unified but contrarian response to the theme’s strategic question. Taken together, the collection of articles provides a detailed picture of the on-going preparation for Expo 2020 and plans to ensure continued growth in the post-Expo phase.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 263-280
Author(s):  
Cheyvuth Seng ◽  
May Kristine Jonson Jonson Carlon ◽  
Jeffrey Scott Cross

PurposeThis study is aimed at determining the effect of a short-term information literacy training activity on the self-efficacy of undergraduate students at province-based universities in Cambodia.Design/methodology/approachA three-week training intervention was administered to 461 undergraduate students at three province-based public universities in Cambodia. The participants answered an information literacy self-efficacy questionnaire before and after the intervention.FindingsThe students' level of information literacy self-efficacy has a low mean score of 2.23 on a five-point scale before the training. After the training, the score dramatically increased to 3.64 and was statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). This indicates that short-term information literacy self-efficacy training is an effective means to promote information literacy among students.Research limitations/implicationsThis research scope was limited to examine the effect of a short-term intervention on a particular population. Further improvements include analyzing the training effects over the long term, soliciting qualitative feedback from respondents, and gathering previous relevant training data.Practical implicationsThere is a need for a carefully designed curriculum to be implemented that focuses on introducing information and communication technology (ICT) while considering its potential application to research activity. To be able to make meaningful curriculum changes, there must be a systematic way of identifying the ICT needs that are most urgent among undergraduate students in province-based Cambodian universities.Originality/valueThis research focuses on implementing ICT training and measuring its effectiveness on Cambodian undergraduate students in province-based universities, a growing population that has immense potential in influencing the country's growth but whose information literacy self-efficacy remains largely understudied until now.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernilla Ingelsson ◽  
Ingela Bäckström

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects a lean initiative has on the health-related quality management (QM) values, “Leadership Commitment” and “Participation of Everybody,” as well as on perceived co-worker health in the public sector. Design/methodology/approach A case study was carried out at a municipal division that had been working with lean for approximately 18 months. A questionnaire was used to measure the effect on health-related QM values both before and after the initial 18 month period. Documents from the intended lean implementation were studied at the starting point and after 18 months; this was followed up by examining new documents. The results from the questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS and the documents were analyzed by means of document comparisons and consensus discussion in the research group. Findings The effects on the health-related QM values; “Leadership Commitment” and “Participation of everybody” in this study showed that the values still permeated the organization to a relatively high extent after 18 months but that no statistical differences can be shown between the two measurement points. When measuring what effects a lean initiative has on values, a period of 18 months might be too short, if significance changes are expected. None the less, the results can be a way of monitoring the development of these softer values. Something that is equally important is to see if there have been any major changes, as a way of keeping the work with building a new culture alive and in focus. The results strengthen the assumption that a long-term mindset is needed when QM initiatives such as lean are applied within an organization especially when changes to values and workplaces are expected. Originality/value This study has further explored the QM in relation to lean in the respect of how the QM values “Leadership commitment” and “Participation of Everybody” are effected by a lean initiative.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Walton ◽  
Matthew Pointon ◽  
Jamie Barker ◽  
Martin Turner ◽  
Andrew Joseph Wilkinson

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine to what extent a person’s psychophysiological well-being is affected by misinformation and whether their level of information discernment has any positive or negative effect on the outcome. Design/methodology/approach Participants (n = 48) were randomly and blindly allocated to one of two groups: control group participants were told a person they were working with was a student; experimental group participants were additionally led to believe that this other participant had extreme religious views. This was both stigmatising and misinforming, as this other person was an actor. Participants completed a pre-screening booklet and a series of tasks. Participants’ cardiovascular responses were measured during the procedure. Findings Participants with high levels of information discernment, i.e. those who are curious, use multiple sources to verify information, are sceptical about search engine information, are cognisant of the importance of authority and are aware that knowledge changes and is contradictory at times exhibited an adaptive stress response, i.e. healthy psychophysiological outcomes and responded with positive emotions before and after a stressful task. Social implications The findings indicate the potential harmful effects of misinformation and discuss how information literacy or Metaliteracy interventions may address this issue. Originality/value The first study to combine the hitherto unrelated theoretical areas of information discernment (a sub-set of information literacy), affective states (positive affect negative affect survey) and stress (challenge and threat cardiovascular measures).


2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 274-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jannatul Ferdows ◽  
S.M. Zabed Ahmed

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to empirically investigate the information skills of undergraduate students at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire-based survey was administered to obtain data about undergraduates’ information skills. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information, computer and Internet experiences, and a set of ten questions relating to information skills. A total of 199 undergraduate students responded to the survey. Findings – The results indicate that undergraduates’ information skills were poor. Only a few of them were successful in answering some of the questions correctly. There are significant differences in information skills among respondents in terms of gender, age, possession of personal computers and computer and Internet experience. The main reasons for these differences and the general failure in answering the task questions correctly are mostly attributed to the absence of information literacy instruction within the university, lack of online information resources and inadequate information and communication technology facilities. Practical implications – The findings of this study will help universities in Bangladesh and other developing countries to develop appropriate information literacy instruction at undergraduate level. Originality/value – This is the first time an effort has been made to assess task-based information skills of undergraduate students in Bangladesh. The findings of this study will help universities in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the developing world to introduce information literacy instruction at undergraduate level.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón Alberto Manso Rodríguez ◽  
Manuel Osvaldo Machado Rivero

Purpose This paper aims to examine the use of different mobile devices by libraries to develop programs for information skills training, focusing on the application of quick response (QR) codes for such a purpose. Design/methodology/approach The study was developed in two stages; primarily an analysis of the literature was conducted to determine the theoretical framework underlying the use of this tool for information literacy. The second part examined the practical application of this tool, with examples of several university libraries. In all, 13 academic libraries were included as the sample, which were chosen randomly from a global search on the Internet under the thematic basis for the theme of the study and thus evaluate the different employment opportunities of mobile telephony in developing skills information on users. The study is complemented with an assessment from the practice of the applicability of the principles described, arriving at conclusions and recommendations. Findings The purpose of the study is to recognize the use given to mobile technologies from libraries, particularly the use of QR codes, to help meet the demands of users in relation to skills training information, just as you may have the need. Originality/value The benefits of the use of mobile devices for the development of information literacy actions are identified and the set of actions that can be implemented for training information skills through the use of QR codes are set based on all outlined by the Association of College and Research Libraries goals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 679-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex C. Urban

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on digital games designed or adapted for information literacy instruction, as well as practical design recommendations. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents an analysis of a compiled set of peer-reviewed articles on games in the provision of information literacy instruction published between 2013 and 2018, categorized by game mechanics utilized. Findings Application of the inclusion criteria led to 12 papers considered relevant. Synthesis of the papers suggests that although studies indicate positive outcomes for information literacy games, such games continue to rely on transcription of declarative tasks to digital environments. Originality/value While previous literature reviews provide summaries on information literacy digital games, this paper not only presents an up-to-date review but also provides step-by-step instructions and worked examples for aligning information literacy learning mechanics with game mechanics.


Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinashe Mugwisi

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the Internet have to a large extent influenced the way information is made available, published and accessed. More information is being produced too frequently and information users now require certain skills to sift through this multitude in order to identify what is appropriate for their purposes. Computer and information skills have become a necessity for all academic programmes. As libraries subscribe to databases and other peer-reviewed content (print and electronic), it is important that users are also made aware of such sources and their importance. The purpose of this study was to examine the teaching of information literacy (IL) in universities in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and the role played by librarians in creating information literate graduates. This was done by examining whether such IL programmes were prioritised, their content and how frequently they were reviewed. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to 12 university libraries in Zimbabwe and 21 in South Africa. A total of 25 questionnaires were returned. The findings revealed that IL was being taught in universities library and non-library staff, was compulsory and contributed to the term mark in some institutions. The study also revealed that 44 per cent of the total respondents indicated that the libraries were collaborating with departments and faculty in implementing IL programmes in universities. The study recommends that IL should be an integral part of the university programmes in order to promote the use of databases and to guide students on ethical issues of information use.


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