Hi,
A bit of can of worms. The argument over names tends to be driven by the discipline and knowledge of the proposer.
Information Literacy (IL) seems to have gained currency over the last couple of years - UNESCO, IFLA have been busy producing books, reports etc. with the IL badge and these have had quite wide coverage around the world. It now seems to be creeping into the Development domain under the 'capacity building' label.
I would argue that IL includes 'media literacy' (ML). ML is a term that comes from a communications studies and generally refers to the knowledge about the critical use of information (how it gets into the public domain and places emphasis on 'who's voice are we listening to', aspects of authority, bias etc.). In fact this has long been a concern of the library fraternity and is probably covered in most IL interventions.
To be IL however does require 'digital literacy' (DL) since an awful lot of 'finding out' and 'learning' requires use of the digital medium and digital tools. This is reflected in the fact that a lot of IL training has to be proceeded or combined with DL training. Unfortunately many policy makers, including those in education, still think DL is IL. From an IL perspective we are interested, I think, in those aspects of DL that have a direct bearing on the use of information. This normally includes, for example, basic PC use (familiarity with the menu bar, cut and paste etc.) the use of search engines, databases etc. but probably should extend to other applications such as mind mapping software, Web 2.0 technologies, PowerPoint. But where do you draw the line? Is there a line? What about use of qualitative or even quantitative data analysis software? Or maybe that's 'data literacy'?
We have also recently seen the phrase 'scientific literacy' (emphasising the subject specific nature of aspects of IL), the phrase 'multiple literacies' and everyone becoming a 'researcher' crops up increasingly. 'Learning identities' is another term that is becoming common.
I must admit I am finding it increasingly difficult not to combine knowledge management, information management and information literacy (underpinned by IT - assuming a digital infrastructure). This is because in the 'real' world finding out involves using one's interpersonal network and people, plus formal 'sources' both ones own, the organisation's, and external; managing the information (both in practical terms as well as applying 'thinking skills') ... and then needing (possibly) a host of communication skills.
I also find it increasingly difficult to separate out IL from 'Research skills' - okay research tends to be associated with primary research and gathering data via questionnaires etc. but any 'research' is likely to need KM, IM, IL ... and to separate these things out tends to make any intervention abstract, decontextualised and less engaging for the learner.
How are others coping with these various (artificial??) boundaries
Best wishes,
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Information literacy and information skills teaching discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Andy Powell
Sent: 14 August 2008 12:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Media literacy vs. ...
I blogged recently about the terms 'digital literacy', 'information
literacy' and 'media literacy', noting that the recent Byron Report used
only the latter.
http://efoundations.typepad.com/efoundations/2008/08/digital-literac.htm
l
I'm not sure if this is a well debated issue here - I guess it is? If
so, I apologise for raising it. Nonetheless, I'd be interested in
people's thoughts and, in particular, whether there is a well accepted
understanding of the relationships between and meanings of our different
kinds of 'literacies'.
As a more concrete question... "an understanding of how to use filtering
software on a home PC" clearly falls under Ofcom's use of 'media
literacy' and my intended use of 'digital literacy' but it isn't clear
to me whether it also falls under the generally accepted meaning of
'information literacy'?
Andy
--
Head of Development, Eduserv Foundation
http://www.eduserv.org.uk/foundation/
http://efoundations.typepad.com/
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