Basic Information Literacy from Coursera

Learn how to begin tackling a big project or presentation. Join today and equip yourself with basic information literacy skills to navigate the vast landscape of knowledge to find just what you need.

This course will cover creating a workable project/presentation, understanding the various types of information sources, searching the various types of information sources, recognizing faulty information or bias, using proper citation conventions, avoiding plagiarism, and skimming information to pull relevant details. We will use a combination of video and readings with weekly quizzes to move through the learning.

By the end of the course you’ll be able to:

• Brainstorm a project/presentation topic

• Narrow the project/presentation topic

• Identify your information gaps

• Locate valid, internet information sources

• Compose appropriate search strategies

• Evaluate information for authority, accuracy, balance, and currency

• Use information in a project/presentation ethically

In addition to earning a certificate from Coursera for this course, you'll also receive a Micro-Credential Digital Badge from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York recognizing your accomplishment. Use your verified digital badge to promote your achievement online, and access job insights related to your new skills. Upon completion of each individual course and the complete Specialization, you will receive an email from Coursera with directions on how to claim your badge. Payment or participation through an official Coursera promotional offer is required to have full access to the course and to qualify for the Coursera Certificate and Digital Badge.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction: Understanding Information Literacy

Identifying your information need

Searching: Finding the right tools to meet your information need

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops a strong foundation in information literacy concepts and skills, which are essential for academic and professional settings

Taught by recognized experts in information literacy, ensuring the credibility and relevance of the course content

Offers a comprehensive study of information literacy principles, providing a thorough understanding of the field

Provides hands-on exercises and quizzes to reinforce learning and enhance retention

Covers the latest information literacy tools and techniques, ensuring relevance to industry needs

Offers a Digital Badge from the University at Buffalo, recognizing the completion of the Specialization

Reviews summary

Essential skills for navigating information

According to students, this course provides essential foundational skills for navigating the vast landscape of information. Learners widely praise its focus on practical, actionable advice, especially in evaluating sources for authority, accuracy, and bias, as well as mastering proper citation conventions and avoiding plagiarism. The course structure is clear and easy to follow, with quizzes that effectively reinforce learning. While some advanced learners found the content too basic or certain examples slightly dated, the majority agree it is highly valuable for beginners, students, and professionals seeking to improve their research and critical thinking abilities.

The course is well-organized with effective reinforcement.

"The course structure is easy to follow, and the weekly quizzes help keep me on track."

"The quizzes were practical and reinforced the material well. This is a great foundational course."

"I found the structure logical and easy to follow."

Provides crucial instruction on ethical information use.

"This course is very useful for understanding how to properly cite and avoid accidental plagiarism. As a student, this is crucial."

"I found the citation module particularly helpful for my academic work."

"This course significantly improved my ability to find and use information ethically."

Excellent for those new to research or needing a refresh.

"Overall, a very solid introduction to information literacy... It's a great course for beginners, but someone with a strong academic background might find some parts too basic."

"As a retiree, I wanted to learn how to discern fake news... This course was perfect. It breaks down complex ideas into simple, digestible lessons."

"If you're completely new to research, this course is fine. For anyone with a university degree, much of this will be review for me."

"I was disappointed. I felt like the information was very generic... Maybe it's good for absolute beginners, but not for me."

Equips learners with essential tools for evaluating information.

"The modules on identifying reliable sources and avoiding plagiarism were particularly helpful. I wish I had taken this earlier in my career!"

"I found the section on evaluating sources (authority, accuracy, bias) to be the most valuable."

"Absolutely essential skills for anyone navigating the internet today. The section on search strategies alone was worth the time. This course gave me the tools to do it effectively."

"The lessons on recognizing bias and evaluating sources were eye-opening. I feel much more confident in my research for work presentations."

Some examples feel dated, and certain topics lack depth.

"Some of the examples used in the videos felt a bit dated. While the principles are timeless, I think updated examples would make it feel more relevant..."

"I took this expecting a deeper dive into advanced research methods, but it's really quite basic. The 'skimming for details' part was too brief for me."

"My only minor gripe is that some topics felt a little rushed, but overall, it was very beneficial."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Basic Information Literacy with these activities:

Read 'Information Literacy: Essential Skills for the Information Age'

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Expand your knowledge of information literacy concepts with this comprehensive text.

View Foundations of Library and Information Science on Amazon

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Read the book's chapters on different aspects of information literacy
Take notes and highlight important concepts
Complete the exercises and activities at the end of each chapter

Review basic research methods

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Refresh your knowledge of the fundamentals of research to better understand the concepts covered in this course.

Browse courses on Research Methods

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Review the different types of research methods
Learn how to design a research study
Practice conducting research

Compile a list of useful information resources

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Create a collection of websites, articles, and other resources that you find valuable for this course and future research.

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Identify different types of information sources
Find and evaluate resources on your topic
Organize your resources in a clear and accessible way

Seven other activities

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Practice Search Strategies

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Practice composing search strategies to improve your ability to search the vast landscape of knowledge.

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Identify your keywords and search terms.
Create different combinations of these terms and phrases.
Use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to narrow or broaden your search.

Practice identifying and evaluating information sources

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Reinforce your understanding of how to identify and evaluate different types of information sources.

Browse courses on Information Literacy

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Complete exercises on identifying the type of information source
Practice evaluating the credibility and reliability of information sources
Take quizzes to test your knowledge

Create Annotated Bibliography

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Creating an annotated bibliography will strengthen your information literacy skills, including the ability to research, evaluate, and synthesize information.

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Select a topic.
Find relevant sources.
Read and summarize each source.
Write annotations for each summary.

Learn to find information sources

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Get a quick introduction to searching for and finding specific information from reliable sources.

Browse courses on Search Strategies

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Identify your information gaps
Compose appropriate search strategies
Use keywords and Boolean operators

Join a study group

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Connect with other students to discuss course materials, share insights, and work on assignments together.

Browse courses on Avoiding Plagiarism

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Find a group of students to study with
Meet regularly to discuss the course material
Work together on assignments

Create an annotated bibliography

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Gain hands-on experience with evaluating, synthesizing, and documenting sources by creating an annotated bibliography.

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Choose a topic
Find and read sources related to your topic
Write annotations for each source

Create a research proposal

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Demonstrate your understanding of the research process by creating a research proposal on a topic of your choice.

Browse courses on Brainstorming

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Choose a topic
Develop a research question
Conduct a literature review

Career center

Learners who complete Basic Information Literacy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Information Literacy Librarian

Information Literacy Librarians play a key role in ensuring that students at higher education institutions have the skills necessary to succeed. This course will help you develop the skills you need to teach students about information literacy, including how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Literacy Librarian

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers are responsible for creating and delivering learning materials. This course will help you develop the skills you need to create effective learning materials that teach students how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Archivist

Archivists are responsible for preserving and managing historical records. This course will help you develop the skills you need to evaluate and organize information, and to make it accessible to researchers and the public.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archivist

Records Manager

Records Managers are responsible for managing the creation, storage, and disposal of records. This course will help you develop the skills you need to evaluate and organize information, and to ensure that it is stored and disposed of in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Records Manager

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. This course will help you develop the skills you need to evaluate and organize information, and to ensure that it is stored and retrieved efficiently.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Knowledge Manager

Knowledge Managers are responsible for managing and sharing knowledge within an organization. This course will help you develop the skills you need to evaluate and organize information, and to make it accessible to employees throughout the organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Knowledge Manager

Information Architect

Information Architects are responsible for designing and organizing websites and other information systems. This course will help you develop the skills you need to evaluate and organize information, and to create user-friendly information systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. This course will help you develop the skills you need to evaluate and organize information, and to provide reference services to patrons.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Journalist

Journalists write and report news stories. This course will help you develop the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to write clear and concise news stories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of organizations. This course will help you develop the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to write and deliver effective public relations materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing campaigns. This course will help you develop the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to create and execute effective marketing campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations improve their efficiency and effectiveness. This course may be useful for developing the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to make recommendations for improvements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects. This course may be useful for developing the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to plan and execute projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to organizations. This course may be useful for developing the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to provide advice and guidance to clients.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. This course may be useful for developing the skills you need to gather and evaluate information, and to start and run your own business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur