تحقیقات اطلاعرسانی و کتابخانههای عمومی (Nov 2018)
Information Literacy Instruction for 7-11-Year-Old Iranian Children
Abstract
Purpose: To develop instructional objectives for implementing an information literacy instruction program for Iranian children (7-11 years old) based on the information literacy standards of American Association of School Library (AASL). Methodology: In this research, the following methods were used: a literature review in order to extract the instructional objectives of information literacy based on the AASL standards; a researcher-made questionnaire survey for extracting suitable objectives for instructing children in information literacy; and a focus group to determine the appropriate ages for each instructional objective and arrange them according to the views of a primary school staff. Findings: The finally formulated instructional objectives are classified into three general groups: efficient and effective access to information (such as the identification of information sources, the ability to formulate questions, drawing concept map), evaluation of the information (understanding of texts, recognition of the information relevance, identification of the appropriate information sources), and use of information (the ability to speak in front of a group, note taking, making slides, writing a scientific text together with citing the references in it) . Extraction of instructional objectives for 7-11-year-old Iranian children shows that the first priority has been given to instructing access to information sources. The standards concerning evaluation and use of information are less possible to be instructed in this age group and thus the main focus is on text understanding, relevance and selecting appropriate information. Some cases of the information use by the children in this age group include use of information for memorizing, decision-making and personal relationships. Other items for instructing children in information literacy are to develop writing and speaking skills (producing scientific texts and speaking about them), making posters and handy crafts. Originality/value: The final output of this research is detailed, fully operational instructional objectives for information literacy instruction for primary school pupils (7-11 years old), accompanied by a sample curriculum and sample required exercises. Extraction of instructional objectives as a part of curriculum of teaching information literacy is of considerable importance.
