Media&InfomationLiteracy_Notes-InformationTechnology.pdf

This outline the lesson about Information Technology - Literacy, Empowerment, Information, and the Internet

1. ​
Information Technology
Literacy and Empowerment
What is Literacy?
●​Literacy is the ability to read and write.
●​Traditionally linked to reading/writing
skills; numeracy refers to basic math skills.
●​Literacy is essential for education,
personal development, and functioning in
society.
Importance of Literacy (UNESCO, 2003)
●​Considered a basic human right.
●​Foundation for lifelong learning and
development.
●​Empowers individuals, improves health,
income, and relationships.
Literacy and Empowerment
●​Empowerment is gaining power or
control over one’s life.
●​Power isn’t fixed—it can shift or grow.
●​True empowerment comes from within
through access to knowledge, skills, and
attitudes.​

Understanding Power (Weber, 1946)
●​Power can be making others do what you
want, but also includes inner power.
●​Literacy gives people the tools to access
power and take control of their lives.
Information and the Internet
What is Information?
●​Information is anything that provides
knowledge or answers.
●​It's communicable and helps people
understand the world.
Information Literacy
●​The skill to find, evaluate, and use
information effectively.
●​Crucial in a digital, networked world.
Role of the Internet
●​Became widespread after the World Wide
Web (1989).
●​Now a major tool for research,
communication, and daily life.
What is the Internet?
●​A global network of billions of connected
devices.
●​Allows people to:
○​Access info,
○​Communicate worldwide,
○​Use various online tools and
platforms.
What is the Web?
●​The Web is a part of the internet made up
of websites.
●​Websites can be:
○​News sources,
○​Educational platforms,
○​Forums,
○​Advertisements, etc.
●​They may be interactive and media-rich.
Who Puts Information on the Internet?
There are many types of websites on the
internet, each created by different people
or organizations for different purposes.
The three-letter domain code (like .com,
.org, or .edu) helps identify who published
the site and gives clues about its purpose.

2. ​










What Determines Your Need for Information?
●​Your need for information depends on:
○​Your prior knowledge and
experience
○​Your goals, questions, or problems
you're trying to solve
○​The task you need to complete
○​Who will use or benefit from the
information
○​How much information you need
and whether it's relevant and
adequate​

●​To effectively search, reflect on what you
already know and identify what new
information is needed to fill in the gaps.
Sources of Information
1.​Popular Publications
○​Target: General public
○​Examples: News articles, blogs,
flyers, manuals
○​Purpose: To inform and entertain
2.​Scholarly Publications
○​Target: Scholars and specialists
○​Found in: Academic journals
○​Content: Well-researched, technical,
and based on specific fields (e.g.,
science, humanities)
3.​Trade Publications
○​Target: Industry professionals and
interested non-specialists
○​Combines specialized knowledge
with general appeal
○​Examples: Magazines about cars,
construction, or other industries

Format of Information
FORMAT DESCRIPTION
Print Printed materials
include content from
books, newspapers,
periodicals,
manuscripts, letters,
notes, brochures, and
similar documents.
Digital Formats Digital materials are
information stored
electronically, such as
e-books, websites,
videos, or audio files,
and are accessed via
computer or the
internet.
Audio and Video
Format
Analog materials are
information recorded
using analog
technology, such as
tapes, CDs, audio
cassettes, and record
albums. Unlike digital
formats, they store
data in a continuous
signal and are read by
scanning physical
media.
Domain Names Equivalent
.edu Educational institution It
may contain carefully
processed and reviewed
information though not
represent the individual
views of the academic
personnel.
.com Mostly commercial
entities, some of which
are profit-oriented.
.org Non-profit organization
.gov Government
organizations
.net Internet services
providers or network

3. ​
Microform Microform materials
are reduced-size
photographic images
of documents stored
on film strips, viewed
using machines with
magnifying lenses.
There is a need to do an analysis of what
type of information will best serve your need,
what access tools are you going to utilize, and
what results will be critical to the success of your
information retrieval.






















































Notes by: Carly