Information Literacy

Information Literacy is the intellectual framework of using information that is of facts and accuracy. Watch me . Teachers and learners must be able to use 4IR tools such as web browsers and software applications to conduct research. These 4IR tools will help them to get valid information and lead to conclusion without time wasted, as information is easily accessible. For example, web browsers  such as Google scholar enables one to use advanced search by just typing down the key word that they looking for and results will be produced without time wasted. The use of social media platforms in teaching and learning can expose individuals to various kinds of unproven information and conspiracy theories. Teachers should ensure that learners are information literate so that they can easily identify fake news. It is the responsibility of the learners to understand, find and evaluate information before using it. The learners should make use of the online search engines efficiently and must avoid plagiarism and copyright violations.

Teachers should come up with ways to ensure that their learners are information literate. For example, online quizzes and assessments can be used to determine the student's capabilities of identifying accurate and reliable information, search databases and identify opinions, questionnaires can also be conducted to check the learners' ability of identify facts and unproven information. Online websites that offer interactive games provide opportunities for innovative and engaging approaches to information literacy learning. Using these software applications promotes the competency to avoid fake content. Using ICT tools to conduct a research also enhance your creativity skills, in terms of being being open to new perspectives, using searching as strategic exploration and being able to collaborate or reach out to scholars' who provide their contact details on their work. It also enables learners to use computational thinking skills by breaking down their research into manageable bits, which will also lead to quality work.

False information in academia is said to be disinformative, inaccurate and not certified information making it an irrelevant source to use. Teachers should educate learners on how to get excellent quality information using 4IR tools. For example, before giving out an research assignment, teachers could teach learners how to search for accurate information on academic browsers such as Google scholar and Researchgate, this will lead to reliable and quality work. By doing that the learners will benefit in terms of developing discovery skills, critical thinking skills which will lead to a hypertext mind and will become independent learners.  Learners should avoid undermining the importance of information management and neglecting research approaches. Students experience difficulties in identifying accurate information due to them being unable to plan how they search for information. when teachers and learners become information literate they will develop the desire for getting clarity on  information before using it, leading them to become lifelong learners.