A survey developed by librarians and sponsored by Credo found that many college students falsely perceive their level of information literacy. The data collected suggests that while students display an understanding of information skills, they are not successful at the next step —application of the skill. These information skills are critical to success in the classroom, but they also extend beyond campus to prepare students for success on the job and in everyday life.
In one example from the survey findings, a majority of the 1,500+ respondents grasped the concept of information literacy as it relates to finding, evaluating and using information, but 46% of students admitted to looking for a copyright symbol to determine accuracy of a source and over half admitted they were unfamiliar with the purpose and basic characteristics of scholarly journals.
“These results are eye-opening,” commented Credo CEO Mike Sweet. “This is clear evidence that many students are not learning the basics of how to research, skills that transfer beyond the classroom to ensure success in the workforce and beyond. At Credo, we have the innovative learning technology and the collaborative relationships with librarians and educators that will ensure that the ‘Fourth R’ is covered both earlier and more often so students can be more successful.”
The full results of the survey along with a paper authored by Dr. Allen McKiel, Dean of Library Services at Western Oregon University, will be unveiled on Thursday, April 11 at the 2013 ACRL Conference in Indianapolis, IN. Registration for the presentation of results is now open at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ACRL_Breakfast. Registration to receive a complimentary copy of the full survey results is now open athttp://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Survey_Results.
