Characteristics of Information Literate Penn State Students

I.   Knowledge of information sources, the organization of information, and the nature of knowing--the attributes of scholarly knowledge.

Understands and functions effectively within the information environment.

• understands traditional and emerging organizational patterns of knowledge
• understands historical delivery of information through oral and written language as well as contemporary information technologies
• understands relationships among subject fields and disciplines
• understands intellectual property issues
• understands scholarly communication patterns, including informal networks
• understands symbiotic relationship between information and knowledge

II.  Skills in finding, evaluating, using, and effectively communicating information.

Demonstrates appropriate information seeking skills and behaviors.

• recognizes required information needs
• uses appropriate resources to fill information needs
• develops appropriate strategies to gather information resources
• acquires information using a variety of technologies and systems
• evaluates information retrieved as to authority, accuracy, timeliness, and value in fulfilling need
• integrates new information into existing knowledge and skills
• self-evaluates effectiveness of information seeking skills

III. Generalization of knowledge and skills to various applied settings with a positive disposition toward the use of new and extant information sources and information technologies.

Transfers knowledge and skills to new environments and emerging technologies; and is positively inclined toward experimentation.

• practices skills in varied settings using a broad range of applications
• applies classroom learning to independent problem-solving and critical thinking
• uses acquired information literacy skills in all learning environments
• demonstrates persistence in seeking/using resources
• communicates/presents information effectively in all necessary settings and occasions
• develops personal heuristics for life-long information learning including "how-to-learn" about new and emerging technologies

IV.  Social context for the use of information, equitability of access to information, and the dissemination of knowledge.

Values the importance of information access and its critical role in a democratic society.

• understands the social context for information and its use
• understands the local to global nature of information and its value in all communities
• understands the role of competing political, social and economic agendas associated with information creation and distribution
• demonstrates ethical behaviors in the uses of information
• participates in appropriate scholarly, professional, and personal information communities

Please address questions and comments to Instructional Programs.

This page was last updated August, 2005.
© 1999 The Pennsylvania State University

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