Pritika Reddy, Bibhya Sharma, Kaylash Chaudhary, ’Osaiasi Lolohea and Robert Tamath
The research surveyed the competency of information literacy of senior high school students in Fiji. This is to evaluate the strong predictors of information literacy.
Abstract
Purpose
The research surveyed the competency of information literacy of senior high school students in Fiji. This is to evaluate the strong predictors of information literacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a survey research design whereby a five-point Likert scale self-reporting questionnaire was administered to Year 12 and Year 13 secondary school students. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software-descriptive statistics of calculating the mean and standard deviation, a correlation and linear regression analysis to deduce the strong predictors of information literacy.
Findings
The study showed that 81% of the students surveyed were average to above average information literate. The strong predictors of information literacy were the ability of an individual to collaborate and share safely online, the ability to share files securely and the ability to access the credibility of any resource assessed on the digital platform.
Research limitations/implications
The current study evaluates information literacy of a cohort – stating how information literate the participants are, comprehending the strong predicators of information literacy so that there is an appropriate and effective implementation of interventions for the desired improvements.
Practical implications
The results can be used to improve information literacy of students at all levels of education in the Fiji Islands.
Social implications
If the youths are information literate they will be able to effectively contribute towards the development of their economy. Since the work environment today is technology oriented and involves a lot of information, being information literate means knowing how to use the information and differentiate between good and bad information. Hence, contributing effectively towards whatever task is performed.
Originality/value
This research if the first ever research done on evaluating the information literacy of individuals in Fiji.
Details
Keywords
Pritika Reddy, Bibhya Sharma, Kaylash Chaudhary, Osaiasi Lolohea and Robert Tamath
The purpose of this study is to evaluate student visual literacy skills using the newly designed visual literacy framework and visual literacy (VL) scale.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate student visual literacy skills using the newly designed visual literacy framework and visual literacy (VL) scale.
Design/methodology/approach
It includes a newly designed framework, a self-reporting questionnaire and a scale to evaluate an individual's VL skills and overall competency. The self-reporting questionnaire consists of 13 items with a five-point Likert scale.
Findings
The newly developed VL skill scale assessed the Fiji students’ competency (i.e. identify, understand, evaluate and communicate using visuals). The mean for the 13 items on VL skills showed average results, but 46.33% recorded high visual literacy competencies. The multiple linear regression analysis outcomes showed all 13 skills demonstrated significant contributions to becoming visually literate.
Research limitations/implications
The limitation of this study is that the questionnaire is self-reporting, so the evaluation can be highly rated. The implications are that relevant stakeholders will be able to devise strategies and content to improve visual literacy in Fiji.
Practical implications
Images are playing an important role today, especially after COVID-19, which forced the education system to go online. Online learning involves a lot of visuals, and as such, visual literacy is important to students so that they can successfully learn online. This paper brings out the important aspects of visual literacy, which needs to be understood by the students.
Social implications
In society, everything involves visuals. This paper introduces a visual literacy scale and a visual literacy tool to measure the visual competencies of individuals. If people understand the components of visual literacy, then visual competencies of the people will also improve.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first one on evaluating visual literacy competencies in Fiji and also in the South Pacific. The visual literacy tool is also new to the world.
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Keywords
Carolyn Caffrey, Hannah Lee, Tessa Withorn, Elizabeth Galoozis, Maggie Clarke, Thomas Philo, Jillian Eslami, Dana Ospina, Aric Haas, Katie Paris Kohn, Kendra Macomber, Hallie Clawson and Wendolyn Vermeer
This paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy. It provides an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy. It provides an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of publications organized thematically and detailing, study populations, results and research contexts. The selected bibliography is useful to efficiently keep up with trends in library instruction for academic library practitioners, library science students and those wishing to learn about information literacy in other contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
This article annotates 340 English-language periodical articles, dissertations, theses and reports on library instruction and information literacy published in 2022. The sources were selected from the EBSCO platform for Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Elsevier SCOPUS and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Sources selected were published in 2022 and included the terms “information literacy,” “library instruction,” or “information fluency” in the title, subject terms, or author supplied keywords. The sources were organized in Zotero. Annotations were made summarizing the source, focusing on the findings or implications. Each source was then thematically categorized and organized for academic librarians to be able to skim and use the annotated bibliography efficiently.
Findings
The paper provides a brief description of 340 sources from 144 unique publications, and highlights publications that contain unique or significant scholarly contributions. Further analysis of the sources and authorship are provided.
Originality/value
The information is primarily of use to academic librarians, researchers, and anyone interested as a quick and comprehensive reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy published within 2022.