AMICAL, 3rd Annual Meeting

Information Literacy at AUC: Focusing on

Technology &Integration

June 2, 2006  

Nicole E. Brown, Instruction/Reference Librarian, nbrown@aucegypt.edu 

Kaila Bussert, Reference/Digital Access Librarian, kbussert@aucegypt.edu 

Alison Armstrong, Head, Information Literacy, aarmstrong@aucegypt.edu

Today’s Panel Discussion

• Information Literacy (IL) at AUC • Collaboration, technology, and

experimentation within IL at AUC• The way forward: Integration of IL

across the curriculum

Information Literacy (IL)

“Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning.”[1]

[1] ACRL Website: http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/informationliteracycompetency.htm

IL at AUC• LALT 101, required by

Core Curriculum• Taught by faculty

librarians• Introduces

fundamentals of Information Literacy: finding, locating, and evaluating information

Online Course

• LALT 101 offered online• Students participate in online

Discussions• Performance same as those in

face-to-face classroom

LALT 101: Flexibility, Technology and

Integration

• In line with Core Curriculum• Current success due to flexibility• Must move toward course

integrated instruction and collaboration

IL Integration: The Core Curriculum

• Spring 2006 Pilot Integrated Model of IL instruction– Human Quest Course– Other likely partners on campus

include: Rhetoric 103, Scientific Thinking and Critical Thinking

IL Integration: Beyond the Core

Curriculum

• A Collaborative Approach to Integrating Information Literacy: A Pilot Project for Law Graduate Students

• Course Guides within the Disciplines

IL Integration: Focusing on LL.M.

Egyptian legal education “continues to be based on memorization rather than critical thinking, research, and teamwork, and that the end result of the “education” provided in our schools and universities is the closing of students’ minds instead of opening them to new ideas.”

Collaboration Gives Results

LL.M. Program •Integrated IL into Law 500: Legal Practice Workshop–Graded, interactive exercises

•Guided Research Portfolio–Tool to guide students writing theses

IL Incorporated: In the Disciplines

• Integrated IL into courses such as:– ARBS 203, 335, 460/561– BIO 105– JRMC 401, 502– POL SCI 201, 308, 325, 472

• Library Course Guides– Online, Interactive, Available through

WEB CT

IL Collaboration Abroad

• ILN Network, Abu Dhabi (2005-present)• The Alexandria Proclamation on

Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning (2005)

• ACRL, online professional course (2000- present)

• Capacity Building for Information Technology Integration in Teaching and Learning, Hong Kong (2005)

• LOEX Conference, Information Literacy for a Lifetime, Hawaii (2006)

IL Contributes

• Disciplinary Level – Students become information literate – Foundation laid for advanced IL

• University Level– “Communication across the curriculum”– Supports mission of AUC

• National Level– Produce information literate

professionals

The Future

• Technology• Flexibility of delivery• Integrated approach to learning • A robust, sustainable, and

meaningful IL program

Further Resources

• Textbook: http://www.aucegypt.edu/academic/library/instruction/research101/

• Course Guides: http://aucref.typepad.com/library_instruction/2005/06/index.html

• Guided Research Portfolio: http://www.aucegypt.edu/academic/law/library/documents/Guided_Research_Portfolio_Feb_2006.pdf

• Human Quest: http://aucref.typepad.com/lalt101/2006/01/finding_and_cit.html

Thank you!

Questions?

Alison Armstrong, Head, Information Literacy aarmstrong@aucegypt.edu

Nicole Brown, Instruction/Reference Librarian nbrown@aucegypt.edu

Kaila Bussert, Electronic Resources Librariankbussert@aucegypt.edu