An investigation into Scottish teenagers’ information literacy and search skills

This valuable research work was conducted in collaboration with the IL CoP, by Morgan Harvey, David Brazier and Geoff Walton and has now been published in the journal ‘Information Research’ http://informationr.net/ir/24-1/isic2018/isic1819.html

Introduction. This paper presents the results of a study investigating the information literacy and search skills of young people in Scotland. 
Method. The participants, secondary school pupils between the ages of 13 and 14 (n=57), completed two out of four different search tasks from the TREC HARD collection, for which the correct answers (i.e. relevant documents) were known. Their interactions with the search system were logged and information about their own perceptions of the task were collected through pre- and post-task questionnaires. 
Analysis. The log data from the search system was analysed using the R statistical software package to understand the performance and behaviour of the participants when conducting the search tasks. 
Findings. While we identified some evidence that information literacy and search skills were being employed, overall performance was low with participants often unable to produce successful queries and/or unable to identify relevant documents, even when some were present in the results. Despite assessing their own performance as being good, the pupils struggled to formulate good quality queries to assess documents for relevance, frequently selecting non-relevant sources. 
Conclusion. Search performance and ability to identify relevant information was generally poor, a fact that participants themselves were frequently unable to recognise. The results also suggest a reliance on complex search assistance tools (such as spell checking and query suggestions), which are common features of major search engines, but not of smaller systems, which pupils are also likely to have to use. Despite the pupils having been giving some information literacy training in the previous year, the results suggest that more needs to be done to help school pupils in searching for and assessing relevant source documents.

Dr Morgan Harvey, Senior Lecturer and Computer Science Programme Leader, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle

Posted by Jenny Foreman, Scottish Government Library

White Paper on Online Harms: blog post by Stéphane Goldstein

Hello everyone,
As you might have seen, the UK Government has just published its long-awaited White Paper on Online Harms, which is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793360/Online_Harms_White_Paper.pdf . Most of this is devoted to means of combating dangerous or unacceptable online behaviour, but there's also a chapter on media literacy, and this addresses issues that are closely related to information literacy. In particular, it proposes the development of a national media literacy strategy. Well worth a read, especially since the document recognises libraries as one of the key stakeholders to be involved in the formulation of the strategy.
I've also attempted to set out some thoughts about this in a blog piece at https://www.informall.org.uk/blog/media-literacy-strategy/ .
Please note that the Government is consulting on the questions raised in the White Paper, with a response deadline on 1st July - feel free to let your views be known!

Best wishes,
Stéphane
Stéphane Goldstein
InformAll email: sg@informall.org.uk Twitter: stephgold7 website: www.informall.org.uk

And here are some related useful links collated by the Scottish Government Library

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47826946

https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2019/04/ico-response-to-government-s-online-harms-white-paper/

https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/social-media-firms-will-be-legally-required-to-protect-users-regulator/

DCMS is building on its report on disinformation by setting up a Subcommittee on Disinformation to monitor this area on an ongoing basis https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/2090/209002.htm

 Posted by Jenny Foreman, Scottish Government Library

Reminder: Early bird registration for EBLIP10 closes on Monday 15th April

EBLIP10 takes place in Glasgow from 17th-19th June 2019.  There is an exciting and varied range of talks about evidence, assessment and impact across all library sectors lined up.  We have 3 excellent international keynotes and a full social programme (2 receptions and plenty of Scottish hospitality) - included in the conference fee of only £350. For more information please check out the schedule for EBLIP10 (Evidence Based Library and Information Practice) https://eblip10.org/Schedule/tabid/7771/Default.aspx

"In an era of library de-funding, calls for accountability, fake news, and complex information environments, evidence is becoming more important. This inclusive conference theme will address encourage evidence based practitioners and researchers to think about what evidence is, how we collect it, and how we use it in these uncertain times."

Please follow us on Twitter @ConfEblip and post using #EBLIP10 Contact the conference chairs at eblip10conference@gmail.com 

Rebekah (Becky) Willson, MLIS, PhD, FHEA Lecturer in Information Science Department of Computer & Information Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland +44 (0)141 548 3524 rebekah.willson@strath.ac.uk http://rebekahwillson.com/

Latest papers: L. M., & Willson, R. (2018). Information technology and the humanities scholar: Documenting digital research practices. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 69(6), 807-819. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24008

Willson, R. (2018). “Systemic Managerial Constraints”: How universities influence the information behaviour of HSS early career academics. Journal of Documentation, 74(4), 862-879. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-07-2017-0111

Posted by Jenny Foreman, Scottish Government Library

Conceptualising the Digital University: The Intersection of Policy, Pedagogy and Practice by Bill Johnston, Sheila MacNeill & Keith Smyth

I'm delighted to announce an interesting new book, highly recommended for your library collection.

"Defines the 'digital university' according to a more holistic and integrated account. Analyses how technology can redefine the concept of the university and extend higher education as a public good. Examines the challenges, possibilities and opportunities that digital technology and practice bring to higher education. Despite the increasing ubiquity of the term, the concept of the digital university remains diffuse and indeterminate. This book examines what the term 'digital university' should encapsulate and the resulting challenges, possibilities and implications that digital technology and practice brings to higher education. Critiquing the current state of definition of the digital university construct, the authors propose a more holistic, integrated account that acknowledges the inherent diffuseness of the concept. The authors also question the extent to which digital technologies and practices can allow us to re-think the location of universities and curricula; and how they can extend higher education as a public good within the current wider political context. Framed inside a critical pedagogy perspective, this volume debates the role of the university in fostering the learning environments, skills and capabilities needed for critical engagement, active open participation and reflection in the digital age. This pioneering volume will be of interest and value to students and scholars of digital education, as well as policy makers and practitioners. "

Jenny Foreman, Scottish Government Library

Two funded Phd places at Edinburgh Napier University (IL to doctoral level)

Dear Information Literacy colleagues

We are currently advertising two fully-funded PhD places within the Centre for Social Informatics at Edinburgh Napier University for an October 2019 start date.

Both opportunities are Skills Development Scotland Collaborative awards offered through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science. One of the scholarships is on career information literacy and the decision-making of young people.

• Applications are due by Friday 22nd March 2019.
• Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 11th April 2019.
• The start date for successful candidates is Tuesday 1st October 2019.

If you are interested in furthering your interests in information literacy to doctoral level research, please find further details about this studentship (and another on work-based learning) from the link below. 

https://hazelhall.org/2019/02/12/call-for-applications-two-fully-funded-phd-places-within-the-centre-for-social-informatics-edinburgh-napier-university/ 

 Many thanks

 Hazel

 Hazel Hall PhD MA BA FRSE FHEA FCLIP

Professor of Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University, UK

Docent in Information Studies, Åbo Akademi University, Finland

h.hall@napier.ac.uk http://hazelhall.org  

See my latest publications at https://hazelhall.org/publications/journal-articles-books-and-conference-papers/