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Selecting a Framework for Information Literacy

Inquiry-based Learning... Project-based Learning... Problem-based Learning

Often information literacy is thought of a set of skills that students must master to be information literate. As important as these skills are they cannot exist without a philosophical framework. The strands of information problem-solving cannot not be taught in isolation. First a teacher, a school or even a school division needs to decide on a framework for guiding the research; inquiry-based learning, project-based learning or problem-based learning. The next step is to select one of the many problem-solving models available and then to focus on the specific skills required to effectively find, use and share information.

infolit diagram

In Saskatchewan the concept of information literacy has been embedded in the Resource-based Learning approach and has become entrenched in the curriculum.

Resource-based learning is a constructivist-learning environment where students become active participants in their own learning; collaborate with others to meet their learning needs, and through the use of a wide variety of resources piece together information to construct their own meaningful understanding about a subject.

Saskatchewan learning in its policy documents and in each of its curricula states that resource-based learning:

  • makes provisions for every student,
  • encourages students to be active learners,
  • allows students to vary the rate at which they learn,
  • encourages students to be creative, imaginative and curious---to become active rather than passive learners,
  • offers students and teachers the opportunity to choose the location in which to learn - the classroom, library or community,
  • promotes acquisition of research skills, higher order thinking skills, communication skills.

Resource-based learning while offering a constructivist approach to education has been difficult to implement and over the past few years several manifestations have appeared which provide a practical framework for student research. These include inquiry-based learning, project-based learning and problem-based learning . Each of these approaches offers teachers a framework within which to structure student learning and once the framework is chosen an information problem-solving model can be selected.