5.+Summary

=A Summary of Information Literacy and Technology Skills=

//"Technology is human innovation in motion." - Punya Mishra//
Technology literacy is much more than knowledge of computers and their applications. At its core is the idea that each person from young to old ought to have knowledge of the nature, power, behavior and consequences of technology in some sort of coherent scope. The previous pages have given you some insight as to developing your own personal plan for developing information literacy in your classroom. These ideas transcend age, gender, and socio-economic status. They detail a variety of technologies from online lesson plans to wikis, as a means to aid your students in their knowledge of information literacy and technology.

We as educators are an integral spoke in the wheel of technology literacy. We must ensure that students use the innovations of technology so that critical thinking is emphasized to design and solve practical problems. The important thing to remember is that it is not simply using technology that is relevant; rather, it is in how the technology is repurposed that is the key. After all, here is one MET from the second grade: //Provide a rationale for choosing one type of technology over another for completing a specific task.//

According to the METS, by the time our students are seven, they should have the ability to choose (with help) appropriate technology resources for research either individually, or in a group. By the time they leave high school, our students should be able to determine if those sources are authoritative, valid, reliable, relevant, and comprehensive. In addition, they need to distinguish between fact, opinion, point of view, and inference in the information that they collect. Therefore, using appropriate technology, it is this critical thinking that we need to foster, expect, and expand throughout their academic careers.

**Technological Literacy for All: A rationale and Structure for the Study of Technology. International Technology Education Association; Technology for All Americans Project, 2006.**
@http://www.iteaconnect.org/TAA/PDFs/Taa_RandSSecond.pdf This document provides a detailed guide that speaks to the power of technology, a structure for content, teaching to ALL citizens, and a call to action for our entire community. It is a great read if you are looking to wrap your head around the who, what, where, why, when, and how of information literacy as it pertains to technology.

Want to know what undergraduate students think of information literacy, both academically (for research) and personally? Then watch the following video:

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