Information
literacy is the buzz phrase of the Information Age. In one brief sentence
it can be defined as the ability to find information, to evaluate information,
to apply information throughout one’s educational, professional,
and personal life. In other words, an information literate person can
find, analyze, and apply information to whatever situation they may encounter
in the classroom, community, and society at large.
The oppositional
nature of Black Studies ensures that most Black Studies majors develop
highly developed critical thinking skills. This is the single most important
quality of an information literate person. Yet, critical thinking skills
alone are not enough.
Information
literacy includes a wide range of research, organizational skills, and
ability to apply concepts to a particular situation. An information literate
person is a life-long independent learner who will apply the process to
his/her everyday life decisions at home, work, and in the community. Viewed
in this context it is easy to see how the values of Black and Africana
studies can be applied to the development of the information competency
process.
Additionally,
information literacy skills have become the survival skills for the information-based
society that we live in. The high-tech divide between students that have
these skills and students that don’t is key to understanding possible
future inequality and the limited economic role of Blacks within our society.
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