Elham Sayyad Abdi

Website designers: how do they experience information literacy?

This paper presents the findings from the first phase of a larger study into the information literacy of website designers. Using a phenomenographic approach, it maps the variation in experiencing the phenomenon of information literacy from the viewpoint of website designers. The current result reveals important insights into the lived experience of this group of professionals. Analysis of data has identified five different ways in which website designers experience information literacy: problem-solving, using best practices, using a knowledge base, building a successful website, and being part of a learning community of practice. As there is presently relatively little research in the area of workplace information literacy, this study provides important additional insights into our understanding of information literacy in the workplace, especially in the specific context of website design. Such understandings are of value to library and information professionals working with web professionals either within or beyond libraries. These understandings may also enable information professionals to take a more proactive role in the industry of website design. Finally, the obtained knowledge will contribute to the education of both website-design science and library and information science (LIS) students.

From workplace to profession: New focus for the information literacy discourse

The present paper suggests articulating the general context of workplace in information literacy research. The paper considers distinguishing between information literacy research in workplaces and professions. Referring to the results of a phenomenographic enquiry into web professionals’ information literacy as an example, it is indicated that work-related information literacy in particular contexts and depending on the nature of the context, is experienced beyond physical workspaces and at professional level. This involves people interacting with each other and with information at a broader level in comparison to a physically bounded workspace. Regarding the example case discussed in the paper, virtuality is identified as the dominant feature of the profession that causes information literacy to be experienced at a professional level. It is anticipated that pursuing the direction proposed in the paper will result in a more segmented image of work-related information literacy.

Towards an everyday life information literacy mind-set: a review of literature

Information literacy (IL) within the everyday life context is regarded as an important condition for civic participation and engagement, informed citizenship, health and well-being. However, compared to the significant amount of IL research within educational and workplace settings, there has been relatively little research in relation to the value of IL within everyday life situations. The purpose of this paper is to explore existing empirical research that addresses aspects of IL within the context of everyday life, identifying current gaps in the literature, highlighting key theoretical positions, and mapping trends.,The review has been conducted in the form of a scoping study that aims to map the key concepts underpinning this research area and the main sources and types of evidence available. It is based on journal literature reporting primary research, published from 2000 to 2016 and sourced from a range of different databases covering IL research.,IL practices take place within diverse everyday life contexts. The key research directions have been categorised into four broad contextual areas, encompassing leisure and community activities, citizenship and the fulfilment of social roles, public health and critical life situations. These point to the need for developing an IL mind-set which is discussed as an adaptive, transferable and ongoing activity that transgresses the boundaries of prescribed skills within the specific contexts of work and education.,This research area is still in its infancy and more varied contexts need to be explored to nurture a robust understanding of the use and impact of IL in people’s everyday lives. The paper also highlights the implications of the lack of IL and identifies the key players in the advocacy of IL within different everyday life settings.

Immigrants’ information experiences: an informed social inclusion framework

ABSTRACT This paper reviews research related to immigrants’ information experience. It identifies key themes in the literature associated with immigrants’ engagement with information. The review suggests that immigrants: (a) have identified information needs; (b) tend to rely on both social networks and the Internet as sources of information; and (c) face certain obstacles to information access. The review also highlights the importance of culturally appropriate information and emphasises the role of information and libraries as key components of social inclusion. As an outcome of this analysis, these themes become key components of an evidenced-based ‘informed social inclusion framework’ that defines the role of information in immigrants’ settlement journey towards social inclusion. Through providing a holistic portrait of information research within the migration context, the framework innovatively introduces information as one of the inseparable aspects of the multidisciplinary domain of migration studies. The framework is intended to be used as a guide to inform both research directions in information-focused migration studies, and the professional practice of libraries and other information agencies serving immigrant communities.

Workplace Information Literacy: Co-designed Information Experience-Centered Systems and Practices

A collaborative design initiative in a North American academic library was initiated in 2016 to enhance information literacy and enrich learning conditions in the workplace. This paper describes co-workers’ information intensive and learning centered design processes, which intend to further collective capacity for ‘using information to learn’ over a twelve-month period. Throughout, attention focused on aspects of informed learning - being aware of the kinds of information we are using, how we are using information and how different forms of information come together to inform and transform our work. Reflection and dialogue on information experience stories further aimed to inform information experience design - to allow individuals and groups to experience information and the information environment surrounding it in a range of increasingly complex ways which offers them a richer, broader and more effective information engagement experience.

Learning Experiences in a Giant Interactive Environment: Insights from The Cube.

Abstract In November 2012, Queensland University of Technology in Australia launched a giant interactive learning environment known as The Cube. This article reports a phenomenographic investigation into visitors’ different experiences of learning in The Cube. At present very little is known about people’s learning experience in spaces featuring large interactive screens. We observed many visitors to The Cube and interviewed 26 people. Our analysis identified critical variation across the visitors’ experience of learning in The Cube. The findings are discussed as the learning strategy (in terms of absorption, exploration, isolation and collaboration) and the content learned (in terms of technology, skills and topics). Other findings presented here are dimensions of the learning strategy and the content learned, with differing perspectives on each dimension. These outcomes provide early insights into the potential of giant interactive environments to enhance learning approaches and guide the design of innovative learning spaces in higher education.