BUYOZI HAMZA ABDALLAH
QUESTION 2
Information resources are defined as the data and information used by an
organization or an individual as well as analyzed below;
An infrastructure or material that provides content and information services for
the user.
An element of infrastructure that enables the transaction of certain selected
significant and relevant data, prepared so as to provide content
and information services that can be used directly by the user. It is necessary to
establish some minimum socio-technical requirements for an element to qualify as
a resource.
A collection of valuable information generated by human activities. In a broader
sense, it also includes related equipment, personnel, and capital.
An infrastructure or material that provides content (data) and information services
for the user.
There are various types of information resources as highlighted below;
Information flow Following a discovery or event, information flows through
different publications over time. This differs between subjects but in general:
Primary literature is where new research or theories are first revealed, and
includes journals and conferences
Secondary literature provides a more digested overview of a subject e.g.
books
Tertiary literature records facts and brief descriptions of key information, as
in reference material.
Some of the main sources of information you will use are:
Reference material Reference material can consist of a range of different types of
material providing you with background information. This material can either be
general or related to specific subject areas.
Dictionaries it is good to have a dictionary nearby when you are reading a
document, particularly if it is in a subject or topic that is new to you.
Examples of information resources include the following; websites, encyclopedias,
YouTube, people, books, databases, newspapers, magazines, TV and radio.
BUYOZI HAMZA ABDALLAH
QUESTION 3
Information literacy includes the ability to identify, find, evaluate, and use
information effectively. The importance of information literacy is as analyzed
below;
Information literacy is directly linked with lifelong learning, critical thinking,
and learning to learn concepts of education Information
Literacy is important owing to the amount of information that is available in
contemporary society. Simply being exposed to a great deal of information
will not make people informed citizens; they need to learn how to use this
information effectively.
Data Smog refers to the idea that too much information can create a barrier in
our lives. Especially students and the society require a special skill to handle
this fast increasing information, in order to use their educational and
economical purposes more effectively.
Information literacy is considered as the solution for the data smog.
Information literacy allows us to cope with the data smog, by equipping us
with the necessary skills to recognize when we need information, where to
locate it, and how to use it effectively and efficiently.
Consequently it will help decision making and productivity which is beneficial
to the society. Due to the information explosion and data smog all students
and the society face many difficulties to locate, evaluate, use, and
communicate information. Due to the expansion of internet services we
receive a lot of information that is not evaluated, unlike the printed sources.
Hence the authenticity, validity, and reliability of this information are in
doubt. Lifelong 0 learning Independent 0 learning Information literacy 6
BUYOZI HAMZA ABDALLAH
Student centered, inquiry based, problem solving, and critical thinking
proactive learning environment with the help of information literacy skills,
will develop deep learners in the society.
Furthermore, information skills are vital to the success in education,
occupation, and day to day communication of all citizens. In the twenty-first
century, lifelong learning has become one of the main themes in the higher
education sector.
Therefore the students need to be educated with regard to the abilities and
skills of how to learn, or learning to learn, by developing the aspects of
reasoning and critical thinking.
Information literacy skills will help students to achieve this target in a
broader sense, in student centered learning.
Traditionally, we assume that the students will gain information literacy skills
automatically by themselves. But it is not. In fact, information literacy skills
need to be inculcated among the students, by the teachers and librarians.
Learning mainly focuses on achieving knowledge, skills and attitudes,
associated with particular subject areas. Irrespective of the disciplinary
stream, each and every student should be able to access, use and
communicate information in an innovative manner.
The Information literacy curriculum plays a major role in order to cultivate
these skills among the university and school students. The curriculum can be
implemented by the library professionals with the help of academic and
administrative staff.
