On October 1, 2009, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation declaring October as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. Click the link to read the official proclamation.
What is Information literacy? Information literacy is the ability to find, evaluate, and ethically and legally use information. There is so much information available in the world today that knowing how to separate what is trustworthy from what is false and/or biased takes a lot of skill and practice.
Students in grades 3-5 have spent the first part of the year focused on what it means to be a digital citizen and the ethical components of using social media and sharing information online. They have come to understand what it means to show good netiquette, how to define cyber-bullying, and ways to resolve issues that may arise online. They have really been excited to learn they are considered digital natives whereas their teachers are considered to be digital immigrants! Our students have never known a world without Internet, television with less than 100 channels, or cameras that require film. They are growing up in a digital world and it's important we give them the skills to effectively navigate and make smart decisions along that journey. As we move into late October and early November we will begin discussing the information literacy side to being a digital citizen as we delve into some mini research projects at each grade level.
It is certainly an exciting time to be working in a library! I have the distinct advantage of getting to work with students and staff around lessons that give them the tools they need to successfully navigate their digital landscape while also sharing with them the love of books and reading. I look forward to helping our students become strong digital citizens as they make their way through school at FPG....what fun we'll have together as we learn more!
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