Joseph R. Skeen Library : Faculty Resources: Information Literacy Resources

What is Information Literacy?

Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning. (The Association of College and Research Libraries' Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education)

Students who receive Information Literacy instruction benefit in multiple ways

A 2017 survey of 42,000 students in more than 1,700 courses at 12 major research universities* showed that:

Retention rates were higher for students whose courses included IL instruction.

The average first-year GPA for students whose courses included IL instruction was higher than for other students.

Students who took IL instruction successfully completed 1.8 more credit hours per year than students who did not.

*Greater Western Library Alliance (2017). “The Impact of Information Literacy Instruction on Student Success: A Multi-Institutional Investigation and Analysis.” (Credo Instruct)

Information Literacy and Why it Matters

The Information Literacy Framework is made up of six categories:

Authority Is Constructed and Contextual: Information resources reflect their creators’ expertise and credibility, and are evaluated based on the information need and the context in which the information will be used. Authority is constructed in that various communities may recognize different types of authority. It is contextual in that the information need may help to determine the level of authority required.
Information Creation as a Process: Information in any format is produced to convey a message and is shared via a selected delivery method. The iterative processes of researching, creating, revising, and disseminating information vary, and the resulting product reflects these differences.
Information Has Value: Information possesses several dimensions of value, including as a commodity, as a means of education, as a means to influence, and as a means of negotiating and understanding the world. Legal and socioeconomic interests influence information production and dissemination.
Research as Inquiry: Research is iterative and depends upon asking increasingly complex or new questions whose answers in turn develop additional questions or lines of inquiry in any field.
Scholarship as Conversation: Communities of scholars, researchers, or professionals engage in sustained discourse with new insights and discoveries occurring over time as a result of varied perspectives and interpretations.
Searching as Strategic Exploration: Searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative, requiring the evaluation of a range of information sources and the mental flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as new understanding develops.

Skeen Library uses the Information Literacy Framework from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) to help us make sure that we're teaching students what they need to know. Depending on the class level (100, 200, 300, etc.) and size, we can cover very broad topics or focus on specific skills.

We also have a suite of videos, tutorials, and quizzes centered on information literacy that you can use to complement library instruction, or assign to your students if you aren't able to accomodate an in-class visit from a librarian. These resources are listed below. For more detailed information on a particular resource, hover over the "i" icon. You may wish to use these descriptions yourself.

Copy and paste the hyperlink for the video, tutorial, or quiz you would like your students to watch (they will need to have an active library account in order to view them).

These resources can also be embedded in your Canvas course; please contact the Public Services & Instruction Librarian, Sarah Obenauf, for assistance in setting up the embedding codes.

We encourage faculty and instructors to view the video and tutorial below to gain a better understanding of information literacy, why it matters, and how to design effective research assignments. Librarians are also happy to help you in devising effective research assignments--drop us a line here!

Why Information Literacy Matters to Faculty (Credo Video)
A brief introduction to information literacy, why it matters that students learn the skills to become information literate, and how you can work with your librarians to bring information literacy skills to your classroom.
Designing Effective Research Assignments (Credo Tutorial)
Does designing effective assignments to assess student learning feel tedious or challenging? Are you ever unsure if your assessments are measuring learning effectively, or if your students have the proper skills to complete them successfully? This tutorial will focus on how to structure assessments effectively in order to provide students with an authentic opportunity to display their knowledge and skills.

1.) Getting Started with Research

Why Information Literacy Matters (Credo Tutorial) We have access to more information than we could ever possibly use, but finding the most appropriate intelligence at the right time to solve a problem can be a challenge. This is evident not just academically, but also professionally and personally. This tutorial will explore how information skills affect you in these areas, and how having the right information at the right time can change your life.
Life in the Information Age (Credo Video) While the abundance of texts, images, and videos is a never ending source of entertainment, information overload can negatively impact your ability to locate and evaluate quality sources. Mastering the ability to find and use the right information in different situations will help you succeed beyond your academic career. In this video, you’ll learn how to develop a responsible, critical mindset to navigate the complicated information landscape.
The Research Process (Credo Video Tutorial) This video will introduce you to the purpose of research and present strategies to successfully begin your research journey.
Developing a Research Focus (Credo Tutorial) When you’re given a research assignment, sometimes the hardest part comes right at the beginning, when you need to determine what to research. Most assignments are not completely open ended. Odds are, your instructor already has done some of the work for you in guiding your research focus by how he or she has framed the assignment’s requirements. Read these carefully. Even a well written, interesting paper will not succeed if it does not fulfill the requirements. You also will save yourself a lot of work if you clearly understand the requirements before you start your research. Read on to learn about techniques that will help you develop an appropriate, manageable, and interesting research focus.
How to Narrow Your Topic (Credo Video) This video breaks down the cyclical nature of the research process, and explain how to choose and narrow a topic into an appropriate research question, and how to explore your topic through strategic searching
Background Research Tips (Credo Tutorial) This tutorial will examine how to: Differentiate between background research and in-depth research; locate useful sources for conducting background research; and utilize background research to help you refine your paper topic.
Beginning Research with Wikipedia/Google (Credo Video) This video will introduce you to the pros and cons of using Google and Wikipedia as tools for gathering information. Google and Wikipedia are helpful for finding background information on your topic and collecting keywords to locate in-depth resources at your library.
Thesis Statements (Credo Video) Constructing a strong thesis statement is an integral part of writing a paper because it guides and structures the argument that you will make in your assignment. This video will outline ways in which you can construct a strong thesis statement by narrowing and focusing your topic, formulating a thesis statement, and developing a “working thesis.”
Thesis Statements (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on thesis statements and the research process.
Scholarship as Conversation (Credo Tutorial) A research project is about more than simply submitting an assignment and receiving a grade. Each time you research, you're placing yourself in a conversation with scholars in your field. You're also forming, discussing, and weighing ideas over time with other researchers. Throughout this tutorial, we will explore: What it means to contribute to scholarly conversation; the importance of crediting others' research contributions;h ow to critically evaluate the contributions of others.
The Research Process (Credo Quiz) Test your overall knowledge on the research process.
Research for Persuasive Writing (Credo Tutorial) This tutorial will walk you through the process of conducting research for persuasive writing (some examples: a position paper for an ethics class, or a letter to your local government office). The skills you learn here will help you complete school assignments and succeed as you enter the world of work.
Creating a Research Plan (Credo Video) Research plans are outlines of how you intend to conduct your research. Throughout your college experience, personal life, and career, you will have to complete a variety of research projects that will require you to use different methodologies, resources, and approaches. Creating a research plan will help prepare you to tackle any type of research project you take on.
Framing a Problem (Credo Video) How do you connect the initial research assignment to a clear and well-established conclusion? Before you sit down to your favorite search engine and start browsing, you need to formulate the question you’re hoping to answer. What do you want to learn? The way you formulate your question will establish the purpose of your research so that you will know exactly what you are looking for. This video will go over how to frame a problem and how to go about expressing your research purpose.
Research Strategies (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on various research strategies.

4.) Evaluating Information

What is Authority? (Credo Video) This video will discuss what authority is and how it relates to your research paper, how to properly cite authoritative sources to avoid committing plagiarism, and how to critically evaluate authoritative information and develop your information literacy skills.
Introduction to Bias (Credo Video) It’s important to be aware of biases when evaluating your own responses to sources and situations, and when examining the reasoning and arguments of others. This video will give you a brief introduction to different kinds of biases.
Types of Bias (Credo Video) This video will help you spot the varieties of bias so you can identify it in yourself and others.
Bias (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on bias.
Evaluating Sources (Credo Video) This video will help you critically evaluate sources using these five criteria: authority, accuracy, currency, relevance, and objectivity.
Evaluating Information (Credo Tutorial) This tutorial will cover the six ways to evaluate a resource. These include: Who, What, Where, When, How, and Why.
Understanding Misinformation (Credo Video Tutorial) Misinformation can impact your ability to fully understand important issues and make informed decisions. These videos and tutorials will review the common types of misinformation and introduce you to strategies for evaluating news items found online.
Evaluating Information (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on how to evaluate information.
Evaluating Digital Sources Using Lateral Reading (Credo Tutorial) An introduction to using lateral reading when evaluating online sources.
News Reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in Journalism (Credo Tutorial) News is ubiquitous in print and online. As an informed individual, it’s your responsibility to distinguish between the different types of news available. This ability is not limited to evaluating the news in front of you; it also includes seeking out supporting and opposing information to contextualize your understanding of key issues. This tutorial will focus on two types of journalism: news reporting and opinion.

7.) Visual and Quantitative Literacy

Searching for Images (Credo Video) Searching for images begins the same way as searching for textual materials. First, identify your research topic. You can do this by asking yourself: What is my subject? and What is the scope of my topic? This will help you come up with keywords to determine the breadth of your background research. Watch this video to learn more about using image search techniques.
Interpreting Images (Credo Video) There are many components to be aware of when analyzing a visual image, whether it be a photograph, painting, advertisement, or other type of media. This video discusses some of the main issues to be aware of that will help enhance your visual literacy skills.
Why Does Visual Literacy Matter? (Credo Video) According to the Association for College and Research Libraries, visual literacy is a set of abilities that enables us to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media. In other words, when we’re visually literate, we’re able to establish meaning from visual images. This allows us to develop and hone our critical thinking skills even further. Watch this video to learn more about visual literacy and why it matters.
Visual Literacy (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of visual literacy.
Using Quantitative Data (Credo Video) Watch this video to learn about how to find and interpret quantitative data.
Evaluating Statistics (Credo Video) Because statistics are widely used to support arguments and positions, it is helpful to be able to think critically about how they were created and how they are being used. Watch this video to learn how to critically evaluate statistics.
Quantitative Reasoning (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of quantitative reasoning.

2.) Sources of Information

Information Has Value (Credo Tutorial) As the availability of online information and resources continues to expand, building a strong foundation of information literacy skills is essential to achieving academic, workplace, and personal success. In general, information literacy skills help you to identify, evaluate, and utilize information in a variety of formats. However, in order to foster such skills, you first must recognize that information has value, and this in turn should influence how you use and manage your information. Throughout this tutorial we'll explore:t he notion of information having value; the dimensions in which information has value, including information as a commodity and information as a means of education and influence; the ways YOU can responsibly manage your information.
Data, Information and Knowledge (Credo Video) You may have heard the terms data, information, and knowledge used in relation to one another, but what exactly does each one mean? Although they are all associated concepts, this video will explain the differences between them and examples of each; how these concepts relate to one another; and how to apply critical thinking to find, use, and record data, information, and knowledge.
Primary and Secondary Research (Credo Video) This video will help you to understand the differences between primary and secondary research, and the ethical considerations associated with both primary and secondary research.
Primary and Secondary Sources (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on primary and secondary research and resources.
Peer Review (Credo Video) Throughout this video, you’ll learn what peer review is and why it’s important, how the peer review process works, and how to locate peer-reviewed articles.
Peer Review (Credo Quiz) Test your overall knowledge of peer review.
Types of Sources (Credo Video) Brief tutorial on different types of sources, their uses, and how to evaluate them.
Primary Sources (Credo Video) Brief video giving a general overview of primary sources. Primary sources contain information produced in the time period being studied, or were created by people who were present to observe an event. They are raw material or first-hand evidence associated with events from history.
Secondary Sources (Credo Video) Secondary sources list, analyze, or review the information presented in primary sources. Unlike primary sources, secondary sources are not evidence but rather the discussion of evidence. Examples include biographies, commentaries, criticisms, documentaries, literature reviews, monographs, review articles, and websites that aren’t fiction or autobiographies. Secondary sources are useful when studying an analysis or commentary of a primary source.
Tertiary Sources (Credo Video) Tertiary sources compile and summarize primary and secondary sources. They provide an overview of a topic by synthesizing information gathered from other resources. Examples of tertiary sources are almanacs, bibliographies, chronologies, databases, dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, and textbooks. Tertiary sources can help you gather background information on a topic.
Source Types (Credo Tutorial) Though there is immense variety in source types, they can be divided into 5 general categories: traditional scholarly sources, gray literature, trade journals, non-traditional research sources, and everyday sources. Being able to distinguish between these types of sources will help you locate and evaluate the most appropriate materials for your research. Take this tutorial to learn more about these 5 general categories.
Types of Sources (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on different types of sources.
How to Read Scholarly Materials (Credo Tutorial) Learning to read scholarly materials is an important part of your academic experience. Reading research journal articles, academic books, and other sources is different than reading more popular items. Correctly reading scholarly materials helps you get the most out of your sources and increases your understanding of your subject. This tutorial will review steps you can take to better read and understand scholarly sources.
How to Read Scholarly Materials (Credo Video) Reading scholarly materials is important during your academic experience; it helps you get the most out of your sources and understand your subject better. This video will review steps you can take to understand and read scholarly sources.
Selecting Appropriate Digital Resources (Credo Tutorial) During your search for information, you will encounter a range of digital sources like blogs, subscription materials, online encyclopedias, archived information, news, and more. All sources you consider using in your research must be evaluated for quality, trustworthiness, and relevance. Keep in mind that your information needs will evolve as you build your understanding of the topic. This tutorial will help you identify your information need, get familiar with the types of digital sources available, and select the most relevant sources to fulfill that particular need.

5.) Presenting Research and Data

Synthesis (Credo Video) Synthesis is the combination of information to form a cohesive view of a topic, issue, or event. Information may include evidence such as data sets, quotes and opinions, or research findings. Your ability to analyze complex, and sometimes conflicting, information is an essential skill to the art of synthesis. Watch this video to learn more.
Synthesizing Information for Academic Writing (Credo Tutorial) Synthesizing information involves combining what you've learned from reading various sources to form new conclusions about a particular topic. In this tutorial, you will familiarize yourself with how to: incorporate information synthesis in steps throughout your research process, and apply the principles of information synthesis.
Synthesizing Information for Academic Writing (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on synthesizing information.
Annotated Bibliography (Credo Tutorial) By taking this tutorial, you will be able to: define the purpose of annotated bibliographies; identify the components of annotated bibliographies; and write a critical annotation.
Anatomy of a Research Paper (Credo Video) There are 3 main parts to a research paper: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. This video will teach you about the correct structure of a research paper. Once you’ve finished watching, you’ll know what information goes where and how you should format your paper.
Anatomy of a Research Paper (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on the anatomy of a research paper.
Writing Help (Credo Video) This video looks at basic guidelines to follow in your writing. These include writing in a concise and clear manner, employing sentence variety and transitions, checking for spelling and grammatical errors, and becoming familiar with possible resources for writing help.
Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing (Credo Tutorial) There are three basic modes of presenting evidence and ideas from other sources: in direct quotations, through paraphrasing, or by summarizing. This tutorial will define these three methods of discussing evidence and information, tips and examples for using each method, and guidance for deciding which method is best for a given situation.
Digital Privacy (Credo Tutorial) Digital privacy is your ability to protect details about your personal life in the digital environment. It’s also about protecting the privacy of your family, friends, and acquaintances. In the world of work, digital privacy applies to protecting information related to a company’s employees, assets, and path to success. As a participant in the online community, it’s important to consider the implications of sharing your information online. This tutorial will help you identify where and how your information may be vulnerable, and provide you with strategies to protect your digital privacy.
Academic Writing (Credo Video) Any academic experience is an opportunity for you to participate in the broad scholarly conversation. Watch this video to learn more about how your work contributes to this wider discussion.
Preparing for a Presentation (Credo Video) In this video, you'll learn how to identify presentation skills in everyday experiences, examine questions you need to ask before preparing presentation content, and review strategies for structuring the presentation.
Understanding the Communication Need (Credo Video) To communicate effectively, you need to consider your communications’ purpose, audience, and content or topic. While this is true for both written and verbal communication, this video will focus on how investigating these factors will help you determine what type of written communication to use, including the genre or style, format, and medium.
Writing and Communication (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of communicating through writing.

8.) Using Critical Thinking and Logic

Why Thinking Matters (Credo Video) What does it mean to think critically? When you consider the context surrounding a source or analyze the point of view of an author, you are critically considering the information at hand. To think critically is to expand your awareness of how and why people interpret events, issues, and information in a certain way. Watch this video to learn about critical thinking and its role in your daily life.
Inquiry (Credo Video) No matter what kind of problem you’re trying to solve, using inquiry is empowering. Being inquiring involves asking questions, remaining open to possibilities, and testing and learning through experience. Instead of hoping that the perfect solution will just appear, inquiry allows you to take charge of your own learning and discovery.
Logical Reasoning (Credo Tutorial) Logical reasoning is the process of observation, gathering evidence, and building an argument with the goal of reaching a conclusion. As a student, you can use logical reasoning to solve problems and develop ideas in your academic and personal life. Take this tutorial to learn more.
Evidence-Based Reasoning (Credo Video) When faced with answering a research question, you need to find evidence that establishes your conclusion. This may seem like a straightforward task, but there are right and wrong ways to do it. You need to take some time to figure out what kinds of evidence best answer your question. Watch this video to learn more.
Analyzing Information (Credo Tutorial) As a student, you’re learning to go beyond the surface level of issues and appreciate the complexity of different ideas and sources. In order to do so, you need the ability to analyze sources effectively. To analyze a source, you not only must understand the basic message but also be able to identify its themes, evaluate its message, and ask open-ended questions in order to pursue a deeper understanding. Take this tutorial to get some practice analyzing information.

3.) Searching for Information

Searching as Exploration (Credo Video Tutorial) How would you describe your information searching process? Why is it important to keep an open mind when searching for information? In this video, you will learn how to approach searching as a discovery activity. Next, take the tutorial to gain a better understanding of different types of sources and when it's appropriate to use them.
Choosing a Database (Credo Video) With so many library resources available to you online, it can be hard to determine where to begin your research and what sources best suit your needs. In this video, you’ll learn how to determine your assignment’s information need, locate the different types of library databases that are available for your use, and how to identify specific features of a database to determine if it meets your needs.
Choosing a Database (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of databases and how to pick ones that are appropriate for your assignment or research needs.
Choosing and Using Keywords (Credo Tutorial) Choosing and using keywords are important skills when conducting research. This tutorial will examine why identifying keywords is important; how to select key concepts from a research question; and ways to identify useful keywords.
Choosing and Using Keywords (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on choosing and using keywords in your research.
Search Techniques: Part 1 (Credo Tutorial) Most of the searches you do in library resources will use keywords, so choosing accurate ones from your research question will give you better results. This tutorial will help you master searching library resources—starting with choosing keywords, then putting them together to retrieve accurate results.
Search Techniques: Part 2 (Credo Tutorial) While every database is different, there are helpful tricks that can improve your search results in almost any database. This tutorial will cover: full-text searching; field searching; subject searching and thesaurus; truncation/wildcard; and limiting your search.
Refining Search Results (Credo Video) This video will explain how to brainstorm a topic before you begin searching, refine your search based on your results, and manage your search results.
Search Techniques (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge on different search techniques.

6.) Citations and Academic Integrity

Why Citations Matter (Credo Tutorial) Professors ask you to incorporate resources into your paper to back up your ideas with authority. Citations enhance your argument and provide support for your ideas. Doing this correctly enables your professor to better hear your voice and provide you with important feedback. Take this tutorial to learn more about why citations matter.
Academic Integrity (Credo Video) This video will look at and define plagiarism and ethical behavior. After viewing this video, you will be able to recgonize that acting with academic integrity stems from an understanding that information has value, as well as appreciate scholarship as an academic conversation.
Plagiarism (Credo Video) This video will discuss the different types of plagiarism and how to avoid it in your own writing.
Copyright (Credo Video) Copyright and privacy rules exist in order to balance the rights of creators with the rights of public use of information. This video will define copyright, review exceptions to copyright restrictions, and provide guidance on how to use different works ethically.
Academic Integrity (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of academic integrity, including plagiarism and copyright.
APA Citations - 7th Edition (Credo Tutorial) The American Psychological Association, or APA, style standardizes the way information is communicated in the fields of science and social science. Watch this video to learn why APA style matters to your academic work, and take the tutorial to get some hands-on experience.
APA Citations - 7th Edition (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of the APA citation and style format (7th edition).
MLA Citation Style - 8th Edition (Credo Video) The 8th edition of the MLA Handbook was published in 2016 and provides a general template or guideline that you can use to format your citations for any source type. This means that as new source types emerge, you don’t have to wait for MLA to release specific instructions on how they should be cited. Watch this video to learn more.
MLA Citation Style - 8th Edition (Credo Tutorial) This tutorial explores the 8th edition of the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style. MLA commonly is used in the liberal arts and humanities. If you're taking a course in English, literature, or philosophy, for example, you may be asked to use MLA.
MLA Citation Style - 8th Edition (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of the MLA citation style (8th edition).
Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition: Journals (Credo Video) Chicago Manual of Style has specific guidelines for citing journal articles in both the notes and bibliography of an assignment. This video reviews them both. Chicago’s note/bibliography style most often is used in the field of humanities, which encompass subjects such as art, history, music, religion, and theology. Chicago’s note-bibliography style is different from other major citation styles such as MLA or APA because it requires two different entries for one citation (the in-text note and the bibliographic entry at the end of the paper).
Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition: Books and eBooks (Credo Video) This video goes over the correct citation style and formatting for print books and electronic books. Chicago’s note/bibliography style most often is used in the field of humanities, which encompass subjects such as art, history, music, religion, and theology. Chicago’s note-bibliography style is different from other major citation styles such as MLA or APA because it requires two different entries for one citation (the in-text note and the bibliographic entry at the end of the paper).
Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition: Websites and Social Media (Credo Video) This video looks at the correct ways to cite websites and social media sources in Chicago style.
Chicago Manual of Style: 17th Edition (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition).
Harvard Citation Style (Credo Video) This tutorial looks at the Harvard Citation Style. An author-date referencing style, Harvard is the most commonly used referencing style at UK universities and is used across several different subjects. There is no definitive format; while this tutorial presents the general principles of Harvard referencing, it is essential that you make sure you follow you're instructor's directions in relation to citation style and formatting.

9.) Culture and Citizenship

Introduction to Cultural Issues (Credo Video) When observing a culture, it’s important to keep in mind the difference between cultural generalizations and cultural stereotypes. Watch this video to learn more.
Global Citizenship (Credo Video) Globalization refers to the “increasing multi-directional economic, social, cultural, and political connections that are forming across the world and our awareness of them” (The SAGE Dictionary of Cultural Studies). In other words, globalization is the idea that people, goods, and ideas are spreading around the world and we are becoming more interconnected and aware of this process. Watch the following video to see an example of this global interconnectedness.
Culture and Citizenship (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge based on what you learned in the previous videos on culture and global citizenship.
Introduction to Civic Engagement (Credo Video) Have you ever been interested in or concerned about an issue in your community? What about in your state or across the country? Have you ever worked to make a difference, improve the quality of life, or implement a change in your neighborhood? If so, you’re on the way to becoming a civically-engaged citizen. Watch the following video to learn more.
Introduction to Civic Action (Credo Video) Civic action happens when informed citizens get their ideas recognized by decision makers who are higher up the social, economic, or political ladder. By taking civic action, you and your community can be effective changemakers for local, national, or international issues. Watch the following video to see how.
Civic Engagement and Civic Action (Credo Quiz) Test your knowledge based on the previous videos on civic engagement and civic action.