Information literacy
What is Information Literacy?
Information Literacy is defined as the ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand.
Information Literacy is the ability to identify what information is needed, understand how the information is organized, identify the best sources of information for a given need, locate those sources, evaluate the sources critically, and share that information. It is the knowledge of commonly used research techniques.
Information literacy skills are skills you will need through your life. We are always seeking information. What car or stereo should I buy? Which college should I choose? Which book should I read next? How can I sell this idea to my boss? How can I convince the school board to act on my proposal? Information helps us reach conclusions, make our choices, and communicate more effectively. But the good stuff is often buried in heaps of junk. We need to continue to improve our searching, evaluating and communication skills in a changing information environment.
Why is Information Literacy important?
Information literacy is critically important because we are surrounded by a growing ocean of information in all formats. Not all information is created equal: some is authoritative, current, reliable, but some is biased, out of date, misleading, false. The amount of information available is going to keep increasing. The types of technology used to access, manipulate, and create information will likewise expand.
How will I use Information Literacy skills?
Information literacy skills are used for academic purposes, such as research papers and group presentations. They're used on the job—the ability to find, evaluate, use and share information is an essential skill. Consumer decisions, such as which car or vacuum cleaner to purchase, are critical. You'll also use these skills by participating fully in a democratic society as an informed citizen by understanding issues and voting.
Media literacy
What is Media Literacy?
Media literacy is the ability to sift through and analyze the messages that inform, entertain and sell to us every day. It's the ability to bring critical thinking skills to bear on all media— from music videos and Web environments to product placement in films and virtual displays on NHL hockey boards. It's about asking pertinent questions about what's there, and noticing what's not there. And it's the instinct to question what lies behind media productions— the motives, the money, the values and the ownership— and to be aware of how these factors influence content.
Media education encourages a probing approach to the world of media: Who is this message intended for? Who wants to reach this audience, and why? From whose perspective is this story told? Whose voices are heard, and whose are absent? What strategies does this message use to get my attention and make me feel included?
In our world of multi-tasking, commercialism, globalization and interactivity, media education isn't about having the right answers—it's about asking the right questions. The result is lifelong empowerment of the learner and citizen.
The 3 Stages of Media Literacy
Media literacy is an overall term that incorporates three stages of a continuum leading to media empowerment:
The first stage is simply becoming aware of the importance of managing one's media "diet"— that is, making choices and reducing the time spent with television, videos, electronic games, films and various print media forms.
The second stage is learning specific skills of critical viewing— learning to analyze and question what is in the frame, how it is constructed and what may have been left out. Skills of critical viewing are best learned through inquiry-based classes or interactive group activities, as well as from creating and producing one's own media messages.
The third stage goes behind the frame to explore deeper issues. Who produces the media we experience—and for what purpose? Who profits? Who loses? And who decides? This stage of social, political and economic analysis looks at how everyone in society makes meaning from our media experiences, and how the mass media drive our global consumer economy. This inquiry can sometimes set the stage for various media advocacy efforts to challenge or redress public policies or corporate practices.
Although television and electronic media may seem to present the most compelling reasons for promoting media literacy education in contemporary society, the principles and practices of media literacy education are applicable to all media— from television to T-shirts, from billboards to the Internet.
Media Study, Media Education or Media Literacy?
Media teachers today use the terms "media education," "media study," and "media literacy" almost interchangeably. My personal preference is to use the term "media education" as a broad description of all that takes place in a media-oriented classroom, whether the subject matter is English, history, geography or science. (There's plenty of media learning that can be done in all those subject areas and others.)
"Media study" occurs when schools or teachers organize specific courses or units to study the media.
"Media literacy" is the expected outcome from work in either media education or media study. The more you learn about or through the media, the more media literacy you have. Media literacy is the skill of experiencing, interpreting/analyzing and making media products.
ICT education
What is ICT?
ICT is a abbreviation of three English words：Information, Communications and Technology. It is a new conception and technology area formed by the combination of Information and Communication. Information and Communication technology is made up of media technology, computer technology and conformity technology. It is a method used to get ,store, transmit information.
What is ICT education?
ICT education is defined as the ability to educate student by information technology. Its purpose is cultivating students’ information literacy, such as information consciousness, information knowledge, information ability, information moral.
What are the differences between ICT education and Information education?
In the main, ICT education and Information education have the same meanings. Both of them point towards the wide use of information technology in education area, and they aim at cultivating students’ information literacy. So the two designations can be exchanged. In same way, they have a little difference. Information education refers to the wide use of science and technology in education area, not only information technology. ICT education ignores information science, just counting on information technology. We can consider that the good effect of information in education can’t be realized without the guide of information science. So, we may come to conclusion: Information education is more accurate than ICT education.
