What is information literacy?  

Information literacy is a set of inter-related abilities that enable us to examine information through several lenses. These are important skills to that will make your academic work easier, but will also be useful for life (for example, they will help you to spot misinformation and fake news). These skills include:

• the ability to locate and evaluate information
• a critical awareness of how information is produced and why
• how to participate ethically in communities of learning

Why does this matter?

When you begin to learn a craft, one of the first steps is to get to know the materials and tools you will use. This fundamental knowledge empowers you to make informed choices when you get to the fun part: experimenting, interpreting your vision, and using your skills to create something new.

The same goes for academic research. Information sources are the raw materials we choose from when researching and writing about a topic. This guide aims to make the research process less stressful and more meaningful for you. It will also, hopefully, set you on a path toward becoming a thoughtful producer of information (whether you're writing or designing it) in the future!

Photo by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash