Inquiry and Information literacy skills

Data collected in 2017-18 by the Colorado State Library from the state’s certified school librarians indicated that school librarians who promoted student-led inquiry at least weekly — when compared to those who promoted it less often or never — were:

• Twice as likely to teach students to evaluate the credibility of information sources, particularly online sources.

• Almost twice as likely to teach students to work collaboratively on learning activities.

• About two-thirds again as likely to teach students to apply critical-thinking skills (84% vs. 51%) and to be good digital citizens (81% vs. 51%).

• About half again as likely to teach students to use a variety of sources on a topic (77% vs. 52%).

• Almost half again (91% vs. 64%) as likely to teach students how to use technology to organise and share information.

What does this mean for teacher librarian practice?

• Research involving inquiry learning engages students in applying critical-thinking skills such as problem solving, analysis, logic and cause/effect;
• Inquiry led by a qualified teacher librarian promotes evaluation of sources, in addition to the use of a variety of sources when gathering information.
• Teacher librarians are trained to use technology and adapt to new technologies, incorporating these into their teaching and learning activities. Often the teacher librarian and students collaborate together to master the new technology, boosting confidence in students and the intrinsic motivation to learn. Teaching the ethical use of information, rather than straight forward referencing, leads to in-depth discussions regarding digital citizenship and internet safety. Additionally, the practical necessities of managing information overload, organising and sharing information are also provided from the expertise of the teacher librarian.
  

Lance, K. C., & Maniotes, L. K. (2020). Linking librarians, inquiry

learning, and information literacy? Phi Delta Kappan,

101(7), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721720917542