eTwinning: Towards Information Literate Students

It's not about the Tools, it's about the Skills

In our so called "Digital Age", incredible as it may sound, I still come across instances where (well-meaning) teachers practise what is known as "Library Instruction". In layman's terms, Library Instruction refers to teaching through the use of access tools such as catalogues, abstracts, encyclopedias and similar tools for reference - (Grafsetein, 2002:197).  More recently, use of the Internet, as well the "teaching" of other  techniques to enable students to become information literate - came into practice (Andretta, 2005:6).

Neither the first, and most certainly not even the second statement above bear any resemblance whatsoever to the real "Information Literacy" definition. Just because we thrust these new fad tools in the lap of our students - new technologies, new tools and research methods - does not automatically imply that our students are becoming information literate. It is the just the case of same old, same old - same methods using different media - but still subject oriented, not skills-oriented.

For the students, the mere task of copying and pasting information for their tasks or assignments is not inductive to learning. Rather it creates a generation of students (and adults) who are great at retrieving information, but this is of little use to them as they have never been encouraged to ask questions, to be critical, or scrutinise their source. The tools may have changed - from catalogues of library books to Google results - but sadly sometimes the end results are the same.

Proper Information Literate students, on the other hand, are full of questions. They want to know how and why things are the way they are, they want to pursue information further, they want to be active learners -  pursue their own learning wherever they can. They know how to check their sources, they know how to-cross reference with different texts and articles; in a nutshell, they know how to THINK.

eTwinning, as an educational practice on its own, certainly plays a part in equipping students and educators with essential 21st Century skills - including Information and Media Literacy - however this is just the tip of the educational iceberg.  The action actively promotes peer to peer learning, a student centred approach with emphasis on critical thinking, and ultimately, a culture of life-long learning.

And that is, in a nutshell, what Information Literacy is all about. It is not about the tools, it is about the attitude - of students and teachers alike. Let us, as educators, encourage our students to question and not accept everything as de-facto. Let's allow our students roam freely with their minds, think for themselves, and be content creators themselves. Let our students become active citizens of tomorrow, for their sake, and for the sake of a better future for everyone.