Information Literacy Programmes and Course Curricula: the Case for Integration

The advent of the Internet and the profusion, complexity and haphazard nature of the information available through electronic and digital resources has highlighted the issue of information literacy in third level institutions worldwide. How do we deal with the information explosion to which we are subjected on a daily basis? In particular how do our students learn to exploit the range of resources available to advance their studies and research? Can these students become fully independent learners as proposed by the new teaching and learning methodologies without the necessary foundation skills? The authors argue, based on international standards and benchmarking comparison, that information literacy must become an accepted goal in the teaching and learning development strategies of third level institutions and that information programmes should be an integral part of all course design. They look at some current initiatives in Irish academic institutions, including DIT, and consider ideas for future direction