Instructional Characteristics of Information Literacy Programs in the First College Year

Abstract

Drawing from a national sample of 465 institutions, this descriptive study explores the instructional and pedagogical characteristics of course-based information literacy (IL) education in the first year of college. These national data indicate that information literacy instruction is an institutional priority for first-year students but that delivery methods, pedagogy, and evaluation of student learning outcomes rely upon more traditional approaches such as IL instruction in English courses and first-year seminars; librarians as the primary content developers and instructors; classroom activities, lectures, research papers, and presentations as common instructional tools; and an underutilization of information technologies. While analyses of institutional practices suggest emerging areas of information literacy instruction, these strategies have yet to gain prominence on campuses across the country.

Keywords

• information literacy
• first-year
• delivery methods
• pedagogy
• evaluation
• instructional tools