Project Information Literacy

I'm a bit late in updating the blog this month. This is partly attributable to the usual end-of-semester hectic schedule, but also partly due to the fact that there are so many different things I've wanted to blog about that I had trouble making up my mind. In the event, I've settled on Project Information Literacy, which as captured a lot of my interest lately.

Project Information Literacy, which is based at the University of Washington's Information School, is conducting national studies of the ways that "early adults" on college campuses understand and conduct research. Since its inception in 2008, PIL has conducted discussion groups at seven different colleges nationwide to collect data about how these students locate, evaluate, select and use information. The schools chosen ranged from elite institutions to state universities, community colleges, and small liberal arts colleges.

See: Project Information Literacy. 2009. Information School, University of Washington. Web. 2 May 2009

In their preliminary progress report, released in February, PIL directors Alison Head and Michael Eisenberg note that many students in the digital age are confused and frustrated by the research process and are also challenged by the "vast and ever-changing information landscape." (Head and Eisenberg, 13)

Currently, PIL is conducting web-based surveys of college students nationwide, which will be released later this year. This is a much needed research project that is taking a comprehensive look at the challenges faced by today's college students in understanding how to conduct research. It also represents a potentially valuable tool for librarians to use in re-conceptualizing the process of information literacy instruction.

To hear a First Mondays podcast interview with Dr. Alison Head, co-director of PIL, click here.

Next week, I'm off to the Florida Library Association conference. I plan for my next entry to be inspired by what I see and hear there.