INFORMATION LITERACY.

Every day we work with information. However, in the world, amount of information are very wise and big. Whenever we search information from internet, it will come out hundreds of web link. Searching information is not easy like we think. It requires us to have skill. Therefore, Information literacy is a subject that justifies this requirement. From what I have learnt, I know information literacy helps us searching information from internet or others easier. It also helps us find the right information that we need. Information literacy combines library, media, computer, internet, research and critical thinking literacy.

There are many information literacy models like big 6, Mc kenzie research cycle, seven Pillars. However, this course I just learnt big 6 process. The IL model is the way how we search information from other sources. Like the name “big 6”, there are 6 steps to find information: task definition, information seeking behavior, location and access, use of information, synthesis and evaluation.  First, we defined the problem, then we decide which sources we will use to find information. There are many sources that we can use to search information such as from hard materials (books, newspapers,…), internet, or from  means of communication (radio, TV, people).  After that we determine where the resources can be found and select the resources that are understandable. In the next step we start to use information. We can get information by reading, viewing, touching or hearing.  After we get the information we need to organize them. The last one is evaluate them. Here I have one example: I have a assignment about problem of information system. Then I have to find out the resources that I will use to search about information system. Here I chose from books and internet. Next, I will find where I can get the books such as library, bookstore…. From internet I can use google search. There are many books about IS in library so I have to arrange them. Then I will evaluate them to get the right book.

Before this class, whenever I want to find information, it will take long time but the information I get just a little. After this class, I know that search information also require the skill. from this chapter I hope I can find information easier.

In information literacy subject, to identify a problem for investigation is not easy.  Whenever I have to find the information for my research paper, it is very difficult for me.  However, from what I have learnt in class, if I do step by step, it will be easier.  There are four steps that I have to apply when I identify a problem such as choose a topic, get an overview of it, narrow the topic and develop the statement.

Firstly, when I face with a research paper, the basic thing that I have to do is choose a topic. Like others, choosing a topic that we know and we can understand is not easy. This subject has taught me the step to choose a topic. I have to ask myself what I know about the topic, what I want to know more about. Moreover, I have to answer the 5W and 1H. 5W is who, what when, where, why. 1H is how.  The questions always play around that 5W and 1H. When I answer these questions, I will know what I will do and need to do for that topic.

Some of the formulate questions:

Secondly, after we choose a topic, then we narrow the topic. This step means that we limit the area of the topic. For example, I choose a topic is healthy food. However healthy food is a general topic. The topic is very wise information to search. So, I will limit the topic by using the 3W: what? Who? Where?. The answer for these W’s will help us narrow the area of the topic. Firstly, for who, I can relate topic like the healthy food for children from 6 to 10 years old. Following by where it is. I can narrow it likes this the healthy food for children from 6 to 10 years old in Kedah, Malaysia. This topic will be specific then the healthy food. Because we just focus on the healthy food for children from 6 to 10 years old and we can do the research just in Kedah.

Lastly, when we already have a topic, now the time we think to 1H is how we do it. For example, I will use the topic above. We can talk about the nutrient in the food, which vitamin that children need in their ages, which kind of food that combine the need of nutrients. It will be easier for us to understand the topic and to search information.

Overall, to identify a problem we should follow step by step and answer the 3W and 1H. find a topic that we want to know more about it and limit the area of that topic. It is also to specific the topic with others. From I have learnt in this topic, I found out that I followed these steps, it helps me a lot in searching the information. It is easy way to find the information and to limit the spam information that doesn’t relate to the topic I choose.

Nowadays, there are a lot of types of information that we always search in the internet. From what I have learnt in class, I know that information is divided into three common types which are primary, secondary and tertiary sources. These three types have some function that can help us easy to discriminate.

We can find information which we want in library or internet. When we search the information is always overload.  So, how can I find the exactly meaning of the word that I want? Here is some tool strategies to help me. However, in each tool strategy will have their strength and weakness.

Bibliographic databases which don’t contain full text documents representation of documents. Sometimes it is a hyperlink to full text version.

Periodical publications include scientific journals, popular magazine.

However, there are a lot of source in the internet. That can aid in solving or clarifying a problem.

When we choose and use automated source online and cd-rom, we should understand the certain points, and use library of congress subject heading. There are some commons access points: author, title, keyword, lists,…

There are many type of search tools that we can use to search information such as library catalog, internet or online database. 

In AIU we have provided online library catalog called as OPAC. OPAC can help the student easily to find the book or information in library by showing the code of the book. Sometimes, we couLd not find the book that we want in library and it took a lot of time. Therefore, OPAC will help us to find where it is and we just find the code of the book. We just need to type the title or author name or subject, then OPAC will come out a list of the book name.

Secondly, there is another search tool that we always use is internet. Before this I just know search engines tool. However, from this class, I know that there are 5 type of internet search tools which are search engines, meta -search engines, subject directories, information gateways and specialist batabases. 

From this class, I’m glad that I have learnt many things that I didn’t know before. To search information is not just from the book or google, there are many search tool that I can use.

Boolean searching which we use the terms such as AND, OR, Not to find the information. These terms we can use them in building a search statement or in putting several sets together. Boolean searching can be used in an electronic database, or environment like World Wide Web. In Boolean searching, the term “AND” use for when we want to limit a search. For example, I want to find information cat, lion. When I use the term AND, the result will come out all of the web pages that have two words cat and lion. To get more information, we use the term OR. The result of using OR will be more than AND. When I use the term and the result of an example above will come out all of the web pages that can have cat or have lion

or cat and lion.

Truncation and wildcard are similar. They use the symbols to replace for one or more letters in a word. Therefore, the result for using these strategies will retrieve multiple spelling or a root word or word term. However, there is one thing different between them. For truncation, we put the character at the end of word. It expands the search to locate all words beginning with the same root. For instance, brain* will return brainpop, brain tumor, brain teasers,… For wildcards, we will use a special character like asterisk (*), pound sign (#) or question mark (?) to replace the letter in a word. We put the character in the middle of a word to match usually known variants of term. Ex: s*y will return skype, skyrim, skdrive.

Lastly, to search information, we don’t use just only one word. We can use a phrase or group of word to find information easier. It called phrase searching. When we use phrase searching, we should put the phrase between the brackets ( ) or inverted commas “ ”.for example, “time management” or (time management).  However, the results of its will be fewer than use other search strategies especially not all the database allow phrase searching. 

In our report paper, we find information then we have to use it into our report paper. So, how to write it, and do reference for it. Let us discuss here. Reference list is a list of books, articles or other sources that we use when researching a topic. The reference list should appear at the end of the report paper. Any reference can occur in 2 places which are in the text and the end of the text. In this case, we usually use APA style for reference. This is the common style for almost the company or university.  APA stand for American Psychological Association, it provides guidelines for publication.

The basic rules for APA style focuses on three elements: title, author, and documentation.

•              Rule for author: international name write the surname first, the name will write the letter only, muslim and Malaysian name write all, use the & for two or more author, more than sixth author we will use et cl to replace for the seventh author.

•              Rule for title: capitalize the first letter, underline or italic the title of book, journal or newspapers

•              Rule for documentation: arrange in alphabet order, no number, each reference should be in single space, indention hanging line one-half inch.

Here some of the format for each type of document:

Books with one author

Format:

                Author. (Year). Title of Book. Place of Publication : Publisher.

Books with two authors we use the “&” before the last author, if more than six authors we replaced the seventh author with et cl.

Books more than first edition

Format: Author. (Year). Title of book (Edition.). Place of Publication : Publisher.

Book with author and editor:

Format:

Author, A. (Date). Title of book (Editor name, Ed.). Place Publication: Publisher.

Article through internet

Format: Author. (Year). Title of the article. Retrieved month date, year from URL address.

Magazine article  article:

Format:

Author, A.  (Year, Month Day). Name of the Article. Name of Magazine, volume, page number(s).

Journal article through internet

Format:

Author. (Year). Title of the article. Name of the Journal, Volume (issue / no), page. Retrieved month date, year, from URL address.

Moreover, we also use paraphrasing, summarizing and quoting in our research paper. from this class, I know how to do all of these things. We use these things to provide support for claims or add credibility to our writing or give examples of several points of view on a subject. It helps to persuade the audience for our point of view.  Besides, the list of reference, we have to cite the source in the research paper as well. There are two types such as signal phrases and in text citation. In signal phrase, we introduce the name of author first then we cite the page in the end. In in-text citation style uses the author’s last name and year of publication, for example: (Shamsul, 2009). For direct quotation, include the page number as well, for example: (Shamsul, 2009, p.23).

Overall, this topic helps me to identify the search strategies and how to use it in searching information. i always search information by using the keywords but without using any characters or terms to make the searching process easier. Now I hope I can apply these strategies into my process when I do a project or report.

After we searched information from other sources like books, internet, magazines and so on. The need to complete our report doesn’t stop there. Searching information is a big process. However, the present information in the report is the most important thing. We take information from many sources, but we have to combine them in such a way that creates new information for our report. This process includes two elements which are synthesis and summarizing.

Synthesis is the process that we need to use for our report. Synthesis is about organizing the different pieces to create a beautiful meaning. This is like putting a puzzle together to make a nice picture. Why we need to put all of pieces together, because we must reorganize and create our own explanations for what we are learning, our own definition of our lives. If we just put everything that we have found into our report, it is not our own report it is like other works. We can learn from what we searched on the internet, but we need to make them become our own knowledge by using our own words. To synthesis information, first we have to look for themes, ideas and ask questions whether it relevant or not. Then we create images which relate what we read to prior knowledge. Next is draw conclusion for what we read, make judgments. Synthesis will help our point go smoothly. Synthesizing is the creation of a whole. It goes on throughout the process of reading, not just at the end. It is bringing together ideas, facts and weaving them together.

Whenever, we present the information to our report we have to summarizing what we read first.

From what I have learnt, to present our information we have to put them together by using synthesis and summarize information before we synthesis. Synthesis look easy but it is very difficult. I will try to practice it. Through the process of synthesizing, our thinking deepens and our understanding grows. Happy with what I have learnt, a useful lesson for my studying and my job in future.