Wikis and Information Literacy...

So since wikis are easy to set up and free any librarian, library, or teacher could create one dedicated to information literacy. And much like podcasts and videos the content can be focused around the theory and instruction of IL for professionals to contribute and reflect and have a shared community space. Or a wiki could be developed for students with a variety of instructional content. 

Some information literacy wikis out there limit who can edit and create content.Some only allow teachers or librarians to contribute, some are open to everyone, and some allow anyone but they must be a member first. 

One idea I liked was having the wiki developed, created, edited, and maintained by an IL professional(s) but has a journal area where students can contribute.

I also liked how one wiki separates content that is scholarly from personal. The wiki has designated areas for objective encyclopedic entries and for personal reflections and anecdotes. 

Really it seems like the only limits to how effective and engaging a libraries wiki for information literacy are ones of creativity and imagination.

Wikis...

This activity involves discovering what wikis are and how libraries are using them.

Confession:

When I hear wiki I immediately think Wikipedia. So my gut reaction is that wikis are bad because Wikipedia is bad. Bad in so far as students using it as a source in their work. 

But, as with everything else Web 2.0 I have had my assumptions challenged.

So wikis are collaborative websites which have all kinds of uses and applications.

The first thing that is awesome about wikis is that one doesn't have to be a computer programmer to figure it out. Which is good because although technology is central to librarianship in many ways most librarians are not IT people.

Some cool things about wikis for libraries is that they can be set up for different purposes. Some have wikis for pathfinders, subject guides, book clubs, so on and so forth. I think this seems like a great tool for public libraries to use for community building and for children' programs.I also like that they can be completely open or set to different levels of restriction on who can edit content. 

An article by Meredith Farkas (http://www.webjunction.org/technology/web-tools/articles/content/438229) details how libraries are also using wikis internally to provide a sort of information hub accessible by staff. 

I can really relate to this because at the library where I work we get e-mails about everything. The library also has a folder for policy information etc.. but it's only accessible from a computer in the library and requires a separate log in and takes forever when trying to figure something out quickly. A library wiki for staff would be perfect to cut down on e-mails (which are all flagged high importance!) and put all the info that we might need to consult at some point in a more organized and stable format than 300 e-mails.

Blogs...

Before starting the Web 2.0 Challenge I never read blogs or had a blog or thought about blogs and had a vague assumption that they were symptomatic of a self absorbed society .

But after actually being forced to explore library related blogs I realized there are some truly insightful and informative blogs being created by library professionals. One of my favorite is "In the Library with the Lead Pipe". 

Check it out:

 http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/

And now I have also had my eyes opened to the blogs out there dedicated to information literacy. Some are by librarians or teachers recording their experiences. Some are instructional and intended for students. Some are for professionals and deal with theory and IL instruction.

 

No matter what the focus or intended audience blogs are a great tool for those involved in information literacy. First off they are free! They are easy to set up and easy to follow.

YouTube...

So I went to YouTube and typed in "Information Literacy".

It yielded 4,250 results. 

A quick perusal revealed there are a substantial amount of really good videos dedicated to information literacy. The topics range from explaining IL and why it's important, to instruction, to tutorials for students. The biggest focus seems to be on evaluating sources, critical thinking, and how to find credible sources.

Of course, the biggest advantage to YouTube is probably the ease of accessibility. Even though younger students are becoming more and more tech savvy YouTube is still a format that practically everyone is familiar with and comfortable using. And while podcasts are great for audio learners some students need visuals.

Libraries can make their own videos tailored to the information literacy needs of their patrons. IL teachers can do the same. 

One area I find interesting is the potential for teaching adult information literacy in a public library environment.I think it's an intriguing challenge but an opportunity to help adults become more familiar and confident with technology. It's also a really great service the public library could provide for free to the community

Podcasts and RSS Feeds...

In completing the 23 Things activity last semester I explored podcasts and RSS feeds. And after poking around Google for a while I discovered there are quite a few podcasts dedicated to information literacy out there.

Librarians and IL instructors could create their own podcasts and make them available through the library website, blog, or wiki. Users can subscribe to the RSS feed which can also be added to the webpage to provide updates.

I think it's a great tool for both communicating with students but also to make information available to IL professionals. A lot of the podcasts I found deal with discussions, methodologies, and general issues that are prevalent in IL instruction. So podcasts and RSS feeds can be used to provide instruction to students but also serve as a venue and resource for those teaching IL.

Podcasts could be used as a supplement to existing information literacy programs. They could be produced as a succinct series addressing different IL topics. Podcasts and RSS feeds are something most younger students are familiar with and comfortable using and they are relatively simple and low cost for the provider. 

23 Things Continued...

I will now be taking my 23 Things blog activity into the realm of information literacy instruction. To do this I will be thinking about some of the activities previously completed  such as Podcasts, RSS feeds, YouTube and Blogs but thinking about ways in which web 2.0 tools can be utilized for teaching.

And I'll also do the activities for wikis, virtual worlds, and social networking for the first time while also considering their value to Information Literacy Instruction.