1. Prosiect Welsh
Llythrennedd Information
Gwybodaeth Literacy
Cymru Project
1

2. Gina Maddison
Dydd Mawrth/Tuesday
Mawrth/March 26 2013

3. Information Literacy is . . .
“…knowing when and why you need
information, where to find it and how
to evaluate use and communicate it in
an ethical manner”
Chartered Institute of Library
& Information Professionals (CILIP)
2004 3

4. Wales is …
Beth ydych chi'n ei wybod
am Gymru?
What do you know about
Wales? 4

5. Googling Wales …
• First hit: Wikipedia
• Second hit: Visit Wales (commercial)
• The Welsh Government (which is the official site for
information about Wales) is fifth on the list! (followed by
Wales Online and BBC Wales)
5

6. Facts about Wales …
• Anthem: Hen Wlad fy Nhadau / Land of my fathers
• Capital City: Cardiff, population 345,442
• Other major towns/cities: Swansea, Newport, Wrexham
Official Languages: Welsh, English
• Government: Welsh Government
• First Minister for Wales: Carwyn Jones AM (Assembly
Member)
• Area: 20,780km2 (8023m2) Population: 3,063,758 (StatsWales
2011)
• Population density: 147 persons per square kilometre
• Patron Saint: St David
6
• Currency: Pound Sterling (£)

7. Employment and Education
• The highest economic activity rate in the United Kingdom
• 8.4% are out of work
• 25% economically inactive
• Estyn (the inspection board) has recently expressed concerns
about literacy and numeracy levels in schools and say that
LEAs are not performing as well as they should (BBC Wales 7
Online)

8. Wales in the News
March 11th 2013 (BBC Wales online):
The deprivation gap is growing - children in
deprived parts of Wales are now performing
worse at school than ever before. In 2012 90% of
children living in poverty achieved worse Key
Stage 3 results than in 2008. This was the same at
GCSE Level.
8

9. Higher Education in Wales
• www.hew.ac.uk (source of information)
• Applications to Universities in Wales January 2013 increased
by 7.3%
• 64,948 applications
• Increase in overseas applications
• Welsh applications to the rest of the UK fell by -2.1%
• Welsh applicants to England fell by 0.5% and to Wales by 2.7%
• Reflects a declining younger population (up to 2020)
9

10. In the beginning …
10

13. Aim
• The Welsh Information Literacy Project aims
to promote the understanding and
development of Information Literacy in
education, the workplace, and the wider
community in Wales.
13

14. Objectives
Phase 1 & 2:
• Overarching statement on Information Literacy in Wales
• Web presence for the project and advocacy materials
• A report on Information Literacy provision in across library sectors in
Wales
• An Information Literacy framework for Wales
• Accredited units of learning in Information Literacy
• An analysis of information literacy in the employability sector
14

15. Objectives
Phase 3 & 4:
• Three strands:
i) Work with Schools
ii) Advocacy
iii) Public Libraries
15

18. Citizenship
Bilingual E-Safety
access
Digital
Community
Inclusion
Information
Literacy
Academic Independent
standards learning
Employ-
Basic skills
Health ability
Literacy

23. Agored Units
• Developed in partnership with Agored Cymru
www.agored.org.uk
• Levels - Entry to Level 8
• Credits
• Qualifications
• Concurrent
• Supported
• Adding Value
23

26. Information Literacy in Wales – the
workplace
• 73% of workplaces in Wales use the Internet for advice
guidance and information.
• 36% use it to search for information on competitors.
• 16% of Welsh employers stated that there were gaps
between the skills held by their ICT staff and those
needed by the firm.
• 33% of search engine users understand that the
accuracy of the information given on websites is variable.
• An average of 12.7 hrs per week are spent using the
Internet.
• An average of 6.4 hours is spent looking for information.
• The cost to the UK of inefficient information searching
and retrieval is between £3.7 billion/£8.2 billion per year. 26

27. Objectives
Phase 3 & 4:
• Three strands:
i) Work with Schools
ii) Advocacy
iii) Public Libraries
27

28. How Information Literacy supports the Welsh
Government Agenda
• Children and Young People’s Plan (WPLS 4 & 5,
WPLPI 2, 6, 7 & 8) (Literacy and Numeracy
Framework)
• Health and Well-being (WPLS 4, 5, 6 & 7)
• Social Care and Older People (WPLS 1, 2 & 3)
• Equality and Diversity (WPLS 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, WPLPI 2)
• Digital Inclusion (WPLS 4, WPLPI 2, 3 & 7)
• Reading and Literacy (WPLS 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 WPLPI 6
& 7)
• Employment (WPLS 4)
28
• Lifelong Learning and Re-skilling (WPLS 4, 7 & 8)

29. Targets 2012/13
1. Two pilots embedding IL framework in schools
2. Identify IL Champions amongst each local authority
library service
3. Support IL training of public library staff in 5
authorities
4. Support the delivery of Agored IL units to public library
users in two authorities 29

30. Information Literacy Skills:
1. A need for information
2. The resources available
3. How to find information
4. The need to evaluate results
5. How to work with or exploit results
6. Ethics and responsibility of use
7. How to communicate or share your findings
8. How to manage your findings
30

31. Advocacy
• http://library.wales.org/en/information-literacy
• https://twitter.com/welsh_info_lit
• http://library.wales.org/en/information-literacy/useful-
documents-and-links/
• https://delicious.com/Llandrillo_Library/WILP
• http://library.wales.org/informationliteracy/blog/
• E zine for Information Literacy Champions and now for School
Librarians also 31

32. And even more ….
• http://www.scoop.it/t/public-library-info-lit-champions
• https://delicious.com/Llandrillo_Library/WILP
• http://www.scoop.it/t/school-info-lit-champions
• http://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JIL
• http://lists.ala.org/wws/info/infolit (US based but has good
discussions) 32

33. More still …
• http://www.informationliteracy.org.uk/ (Information Literacy
for beginners)
• http://www.informationliteracy.org/ (tips for teaching)
• http://heartoftheschool.edublogs.org/ (for school librarians)
33

34. And more …
34

35. Work with Schools
• Ongoing advocacy with schools and Teacher Training Colleges
• 2 Case Studies – Holyhead School (North Wales), and
Llanishen (South Wales)
• Contact made with Welsh Baccalaureate qualification (WJEC);
representative invited to sit on Steering Group
• Information Literacy Framework mapped to Literacy and
Numeracy Framework 35

36. Why do school pupils need
information literacy?
Information (of varying quality)
is increasingly abundant
New technologies have led to
diverse ways of delivering information
Information literacy will empower pupils to
navigate this changing information landscape

37. 2
• Fundamental to educational attainment – information
literacy will support pupils throughout their studies in
school, FE and HE
• Information literacy supports lifelong learning
• Central to pupils’ future employment opportunities
• A lack of information literacy skills can lead to social
exclusion and disempowerment
37

38. Misconception that Pupils’
“Google generation” information
familiarity with social However… literacy skills
technology = will vary
information literacy significantly

39. What are the benefits for pupils
and schools?
1. Supporting independent learning
• Information literacy encourages the research
and critical evaluation skills central to
independent learning
2. Skills Framework for 3 to 19-year-olds
• Information literacy delivers areas of Skills
Framework
• For example, all of the “Delivering ICT”
learning objectives are based on principles of
information literacy

40. What are the benefits for pupils
and schools?
3. Literacy skills
• Information literacy develops pupils’ literacy
skills
• Reading skills practised in task-orientated way
when seeking information
• Writing skills reinforced when recording and
presenting information
4. Transition
• Information literacy supports pupils’ transition
between key stages and sectors

41. What are the benefits for pupils
and schools?
5. Digital inclusion
• Pupils who can find and exchange
information using digital means are digitally
included. They are empowered to benefit
from the financial, economic and social
advantages that the internet can offer
6. E-safety
• Pupils are better able to protect themselves
online if they have the critical evaluation
skills of information literacy

42. How will information literacy
enhance teaching?
Information literacy will Provides opportunities
further pupils’ educational for interactive and
achievement engaging lessons
Information literacy Encourages your
will support the pupils to develop
school curriculum lifelong skills

43. Example information literacy
topics 7-9
Year Year 10-13
• Introduction to the school • Welsh Baccalaureate –
library or local public • Information literacy based
library service independent project
• What is plagiarism and • Information literacy can
how to avoid it? be used to develop and
illustrate WBQ key skills
• Searching the internet –
importance of critically • Careers - pupils develop
evaluating internet and use information
resources and e-safety literacy skills to research
career opportunities

44. Year 8 lesson idea
• Topic: Exploration
• Task: Pupils complete an historical investigation into an individual
explorer of their choice. They build a picture of his early life, his
motivation for going exploring, and the consequences and impact of his
exploration, identifying relevant print and online sources, presenting
their information on a bio-cube for a classroom display, one side of which
includes references for their sources.
• Information literacy skills developed:
• Pupils gain practice in developing and using mini research questions to
direct and structure their research
• Pupils develop skills in scanning sources for appropriate information (e.g.
skim and scan activity)
• Pupils understand the need to gather specific information systematically
from a range of sources (e.g. through using notes grids)
• Pupils learn how to evaluate websites and gain an awareness of the need
to check the validity of their sources (e.g. starter activity - pupils evaluate
2 websites given to them, one of which is a spoof site with inaccurate
information, followed by class discussion)
[Lesson idea provided by Liz Smith, Librarian, Pembroke School ]

45. Public Libraries’ Strand
• Set up a network of Information Literacy Champions in 22
authorities.
• Delivered Information Literacy awareness/training to five
public library authorities (including Agored units).
• Identified two public library authorities to deliver information
literacy training to the public.
45

46. What does an Information Literacy
Champion do?
• To be the main contact point for all IL
issues
• To attend any IL meetings as appropriate
• To assist in the delivery of IL training and
encourage appropriate staff to partake in
training
• To communicate and enthuse the latest IL
initiatives/campaigns to library staff and 46
users

47. • To monitor and feedback on all IL activity
where necessary
• To ensure local IL strategies and plans are
consistent with the national strategies
• To advise the WILP Development Officers
about relevant activities of
interest/concern
• To assist in developing yearly IL plans
• To contribute to advocacy 47

48. Aims and Objectives – Phase 3 – Public
Libraries
• To support Information Literacy skills development
amongst public library staff.
• To support public library services in the delivery of
Information Literacy to users.
48

49. Welsh Public Library
Standards
• The following Standards should apply to all
service points (including mobile library
services) open for more than 10 hours per
week
• (i) Libraries will ensure that the following ICT
facilities are available to users:
• (j) Information literacy sessions for users
(formal or informal assistance to users in
developing or enhancing their use of library
services and facilities. 49

50. What’s On
• Gwynedd - staff awareness days. All staff to undertake Level
2/3 Agored training through the medium of Welsh Language.
• Wrecsam – presentation at Staff Conference October 2012.
• Monmouthshire – 2 staff awareness days December 2012.
Champions to do Level 3 and mentor interested staff through
Level 2 Agored training.
• Cardiff Central Library – in house IL staff training programme
based on Agored units.
• Denbighshire – 2 staff awareness days, Welsh and English.
Staff to be encouraged to take up Level 2/3 Agored training.
• Merthyr Tydfil – 2 staff awareness days January 2012.
Champion to do Level 3 training and mentor interested staff 50
in Level 2.

51. Staff Training Days
• What Information Literacy skills help us to assist the general
public?
• How can we embed it into the work we do with the general
public? In which fields might it be useful?
• Why is it important for library staff? Why is it important for
the public?
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52. The Information Literacy skills that help us to assist
the general public
• Identifying what information is required.
• Assessing the client’s knowledge and identify gaps.
• Planning a strategy for locating the information.
• Locating and access the information required.
• Evaluating and assessing the information and data. located –
is it what was required? (currency, bias etc).
• Organising and applying the information found – does it help
the client make a decision?
• Presenting the results of the research appropriately.
52

53. How it can be useful
• Health information • Navigating e resources
• Financial information • E safety
• Family and local history • Business Information
• Jobseekers’ and benefits • Citizenship
information • E commerce
• Helping students of any • Financial Literacy
age • Problem Solving
• Personal interests and • E shopping
hobbies
• Study and research skills
– avoiding plagiarism
53

54. Why it is it useful for library
staff?
• Assisting and supporting the general public
in negotiating the increasing information
landscape - beyond the Google generation!
• Supports the Welsh Government’s Digital
Inclusion Agenda.
• Develops critical and evaluation skills in
research- locating, evaluating, using and
presenting information appropriately,
whether for self or assisting general public. 54

55. Agored
• http://librarywales.org/uploads/media/Handbook_Aug_16th_
11.pdf
55

56. Agored Information
Literacy Units
• Units – now being piloted. All units have a credit value
of 3 credits (1 credit = 10 learning hours). Tutor
assessment about 15 hrs.
• Levels – Entry Level/Level 8 (2 = GCSE, 3 ‘A’ Level)
• Credits - (30 learning hours at Level 3)
• Based on the Seven Pillars model for Information
Literacy:
Identify, Scope, Plan, Gather, Evaluate, Manage, Present. 56

57. Logbooks
• Assessment is via Logbooks
• Uses practical library searches and research
• Can attach product evidence
• Guidance notes are provided
LINK to level 2 logbook
57

58. Where to find the Logbooks
• http://library.wales.org/en/information-literacy/cqfw-
units/resources/
58

59. The process ….
10 week checklist:
 staff complete enrolment form
 They choose a suitable enquiry
 They gather evidence
 They complete logbook
 They send draft completed logbook to assessor
 They revise logbook based on feedback
 They submit completed logbook with product evidence
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 Staff mentoring throughout the process

60. Assessment and IVing
• Professional staff are assessing logbooks completed by front
line staff
• All staff completing logbooks register with Agored
• Logbooks must meet Learning Outcomes
• Sample of completed logbooks are then Internally Verified
(IVed) for Quality Assessment
• Gwynedd are registered via the college; Monmouthshire and
Merthyr Tydfil are working with their internal Ivers
• Agored recommends award of credit
60

61. Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the preparation necessary when choosing
information to meet a specific purpose
2. Understand the advantages and limitations of a range of
information sources.
3. Know how to gather required information and assess its
relevance.
4. Be able to communicate information gained according to
purpose and audience. 61

62. Selected Topics - sample
• Dyslexia and Irlens’ Syndrome
• Senile dementia and care options
• The artist Kyffin Williams/the poet R. S. Thomas
• Reading options for clients with a visual impairment
• Local History (eg the castles of North Wales)
• Jobseekers’ information
• Family history
• The poet Dylan Thomas
• Recycling
• Manchester United Football Club!
• The Universal Credit System 62

63. Best Practice Day January 2013
• Mapping of good Information Literacy Practice across North
Wales
• Presentations by Public Library services, schools, Colleges and
Universities
• http://librarywales.org/en/information-literacy/case-
studies/north-wales-information-literacy-best-practice-
sharing-day-2013/
• Highlighted the importance of linking Information Literacy to
‘Digital Inclusion’ or ‘Digital by Default’ 63

64. Highlights of the day
• Information Literacy ‘by stealth’, at ‘point of need’ and supporting skill
development using topic based ‘hooks’ were the most successful
approaches for learners involved in both formal and informal training
activities.
• The opportunity to explore the potential collaborative opportunities
between Information Literacy activities currently taking place in North
Wales both linked to, and independent of, the WILP.
• There was a general consensus that the term ‘Information Literacy’ and how
this is relevant to their lives should be introduced to learners later in their
learning journey.
• Accredited units are a valuable motivation tool for younger learners.
• Greater acknowledgement of the value of Information Literacy skills to Work
Based Learning and Employability needs to be more visible in Community
based, School and Graduate education delivery.
• Support to establish an all Wales joint FE and HE Information Literacy 64
Champions Network/Community of Practice .

65. What Next?
• Establish a Champions Network for School Librarians and
Colleges of FE
• To develop bilingual support materials for the Agored units
• To re-visit the employability agenda
• To develop further links with the Digital Inclusion and ‘digital
by Default’ agenda
• To continue advocacy work in schools etc, and target Teacher
Training Colleges
• Complete Case Studies in schools and public libraries
• Deliver Information Literacy units to members of the public in
at least 2 authorities
65
• To develop an exit strategy

66. Diolch yn fawr

67. Any questions?
Unrhyw gwestiynau?
Diolch yn fawr !
Contact details:
Gina Maddison g.maddison@gllm.ac.uk
• p.hebron@gllm.ac.uk (schools)
• s.murray@gllm.ac.uk (advocacy)
67