A1.4 “Information Literacy for Lifelong Learning”

Deidra Darst
08/21/07

Hancock, Vicki E. (1993). Information literacy for lifelong learning. ERIC Publications; ERIC Digests in Full Text. (Eric Document Reproduction Service No. ED359970)

TAP: The topic of this article is information literacy, how people find, evaluate and use information, and its impact on learning’s process and outcome. The intended audience of the article is anyone who teaches or learns, especially those in the education field. The purpose of this article is to inform the reader about a particular means of learning – a “resource-based” (Hancock, 1993) approach; instruction and learning should not be restricted to printed materials and teacher instruction.

Claim: The author claims that the learning process could be enhanced through the use of current technologies. She believes that the use of computers, videos and television for educational purposes enables individuals to become active learners and thus become more connected to the material.

Evidence: Hancock provides several pieces of evidence to support her claim. First, students must become responsible for their learning when using this “resource-based” means. They are actively learning the material which allows more retention of information. The average citizen benefits from this approach as well. “Information literate citizens” (Hancock) possess the means to succeed in today’s society. These citizens know how to use the information accessed through today’s technologies. Because they have actively participated in the learning process, they have truly gained knowledge rather than passively absorbing the information through a textbook. The author makes a crucial observation about workers who are information literate – these workers see learning as a process rather than a means to an end. This enables them to fully understand and respect learning for what it is, a process that should be done with initiative and contemplation.

Connections: This article is very relevant in regards to my life. Throughout my four years of college, I have learned to become active in the learning process. Researching things on my own has helped me understand difficult concepts that I could not understand during a lecture. I have come to understand that studying material is the essence of learning. I may not receive an “A” on every task I complete, but, by actively studying the information, I know that I have truly learned it and will retain it for many years to come. Becoming deeply involved in the material helps me make connections between the new information and my previous knowledge.

This article can be connected to a later article written in 1995. The 1995 article entitled, “Information Literacy in an Information Society,” also describes the importance of accessing multiple forms of media during the learning process. This article, just like the 1995 article, states the importance of information literacy in today’s world.

This article will carry relevance in my future as a professional. As a speech-language pathologist, I will encounter people from numerous backgrounds, some who will have information literacy and some who will not. A lack of information literacy, on the part of the clinician or the client, can alter the therapy process. Ultimately, the more experience one has with information literacy, the more potential for success exists in the therapy process.