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The Case For Information Studies
A SUMMARY

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( the full document)

Palo Alto College, in San Antonio, has added INFORMATION STUDIES (INFO 1371) to its core curriculum. We believe that the addition of this course will increase student success and retention rates.

We are seeking senior institutions who are equally innovative and student success oriented and will provide us with a letter to the Coordinating Board (THECB) stating that our course INFO 1371 will transfer and will count toward a general education degree or will count toward the major requirements for a degree.

The Information Studies course covers the following major areas:

  • Computer and information technology basics
  • Web and network basics
  • How to find information--sources, formats, methods
  • Evaluating information for quality and validity
  • How to record information (notes, MLA, APA)
  • Communicating information (style & technologies)
  • The research process and the research paper
  • Critical thinking, and applications
  • The ethics, law, and theories of information access and use

Information literacy is rapidly becoming a required element of college curricula across the country. We think it is time to address this student need in Texas. Our position is that the addition of this course will increase student retention and reduce the costs of student recruitment.

A Major National Movement

Information literacy is becoming accepted across the country--and in many foreign countries--as an essential element of a higher education curriculum. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools now requires that institutions seeking accreditation ". . . describe and document the strategies and activities used to provide an effective program of bibliographic instruction and information literacy." Several other regional accrediting agencies are considering adopting such a requirement.

Information literacy is now defined as one of the "five essential competencies for solid job performance according to the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)" (ALA).

Many universities are now requiring an information literacy course. A growing number of national organizations are pushing to have information studies included in college and university curricula. For more information, see our full documentation at http://www.accd.edu/pac/lrc/iscase.htm.

Unaddressed College & Student Needs

  • 84% of college students don't use the library.

  • Studies show that one source of poor college student motivation is lack of information literacy.

  • The library is a major budget item for colleges and universities, but few students (1.2%) know how to use it. Only 16% use the library in even a poor manner.

  • Studies show that college seniors are no more effective at doing research papers than freshmen.

  • Assigning students to use the library or look for information, without teaching them how, is setting them up for failure (Barnes, 1988; Carlson & Miller, 1984; Gwin, 1978; Lyle, 1963; Morris, 1980).

Getting Full Return On Institutional Investments


Major Budget Item Support in Curriculum
Computers and networks Computer Literacy classes in the core curriculum
Libraries and information technologies Needed: Information courses in the core curriculum

Administrators Speak

Accrediting Agencies supporting Information Studies:

  • The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Western Association of School and Colleges
  • New England Accrediting Agency
  • North Central Accrediting Agency
National Associations recommending Information Studies:

  • American Association of Higher Education
  • U.S. Department of Labor Secretarys Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)
  • American Association for Higher Education (AAHE)
  • American Association of Community Colleges
  • Association of American Colleges and Universities
  • and many others (see full document for more)

Higher Education Institutions Recommending Information Studies:

  • The SUNY system
  • The California University system
  • the 32 member colleges of the Washington State and Community College Association
  • and many more (see full document for more)

Students Speak

 (Two samples taken from the records of Richland College, DCCCD where LS102 was taught for 20 years as a 3 hour academic course by Sharlee Jeser-Skaggs and others... for more see full document for more)

"I have learned more from this course than I ever expected or imagined I could. This is the most practical course I have ever taken. This was highly recommended to me by other students and faculty and I see now why. It is an excellent course to prepare anyone that wishes to go on to another college or university... Thank you for opening up a new dimension of knowledge for me that I can use for the rest of my college and professional career."

~~

"I considered myself to be proficient at locating books in the library, but had no idea of the extensive resources available at a college library. This course has given me the skills necessary to utilize these resources effectively and efficiently and will continue to aid me as I continue my college education."

Faculty Speak

"Where do I sign up for this course? I wish I had had something like this before I started my graduate courses at UT Austin. Anyway, it appears that we do not have enough time to teach information literacy in the college level English courses, and we should welcome a course that could complement our instruction--- in any discipline."

~~

"I am 100% in favor of Information Literacy as a core curriculum course taught by the library [faculty]. If you remember Colby Glass and I developed the paired courses in English 1302 and Library Science some years back. It was fabulous... what I learned in his [class] was overwhelming... I would really want the students to have the advantage of this ever evolving information literacy... "

Course Description

A study of the fundamentals of information--storage, retrieval, evaluation, documentation, and communication--from theoretically and technologically diverse perspectives. Topics will include how to do research, MLA and APA styles of documentation, copyright laws, using the PC for acquiring information and solving problems, critical thinking about information, a survey of the types of information resources available, and the general principles of information organization, storage, and retrieval. The course will include the preparation of students for a rapidly changing environment and student adaptation to new information formats and technologies as they become available.

Note: Other names for Information Studies:

- Information Literacy
- Information Competency
- Library & Information Science

Expected Results

  • Better student retention
  • Better student success rates
  • Lowered college recruitment costs
  • Better student motivation
  • Better use of library resources
  • Better use of information technologies
  • Better prepared graduates

Help support the addition of Information Studies to college curricula. Write Colby Glass, MLIS at cglass@accd.edu.

Visit our Information Studies course site at http://www.accd.edu/pac/lrc/colby/index.htm




Please send comments to: Colby Glass, MLIS