Information Fluency: Building a Tiered, Course-Integrated Program Across the College Curriculum: Definitions

– incorporated into the curriculum; not existing in isolation (separate courses devoted to teaching library/research skills generally have not been effective; the teaching of skills must be linked to the curriculum of the discipline and the core).

... is a set of abilities that allow an individual to recognize when information is needed and apply those abilities to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the needed information.

An information literate person is able to:

• Determine the extent of information needed.
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently.
• Evaluate information and its sources crtically.
• Incorporate selected information into their knowledge base.
• Use information to accomplish a specific purpose.
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding access and use of information.

... going beyond what librarian’s refer to as the “One-Shot” – or 60-minute presentation in which we try to teach students everything we know about research.  It’s just T.M.I!  It is preferable to spread the “wealth” over a period of time, delivering information and teaching skills as the students have need of them in their coursework.

... the ability to apply the skills associated with (1) information literacy, (2) computer literacy, and (3) critical thinking to address and solve information problems across disciplines, across academic levels, and across information format structures" (Danny Callison)

• Information literacy – recognizing when (and what) information is needed and being able to efficiently locate, accurately evaluate, effectively use, and clearly communicate information in various formats. 
• Computer literacy - the ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a range of skills covering levels from elementary use to programming and advanced problem solving.
• Critical thinking - "an appraisal based on careful analytical evaluation” (TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30); "The process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion" (Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2016-02-24.) "Disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence" (Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2016-02-24)