| f the most frequently heard buzzwords in your | | | | learn the alphabet. The wise parent-teacher develops |
| child’s school these days is | | | | techniques which play to the child’s innate |
| “information literacy.” What this | | | | appreciation of the interaction provided by pictures |
| means is that you’re unlikely to find your child | | | | and text in children’s storybooks. When |
| poring over the “Great Expectations” | | | | reading to your child, experiment with your voice, |
| anthology you studied when you were in grade | | | | change tone volume, level, and pitch to fit the action |
| school. While some schools still (and happily) have a | | | | of the story. |
| place for traditional methods in the “teaching | | | | Don’t be embarrassed if your husband or |
| of English,” the subject is now broken down | | | | friends catch you watching cartoons at home with |
| into separate subjects of “Language | | | | little Freddie. Watching cartoons can give a |
| Arts” and “Reading.” Both are | | | | parent-teacher voice coaching. Don’t feel silly |
| components of information literacy. But information | | | | mimicking cartoon voices—very young children |
| literacy refers as much to the information contained | | | | are still in sensory mode. They love voices. |
| in math, science, history and world cultures courses | | | | Parents should familiarize themselves with the many |
| as it does to courses in reading and literature | | | | websites for kids. Web links like KidsConnect and |
| appreciation. | | | | KidsClick can introduce the young learner into the |
| Information literacy goals of the American | | | | logic, power, and fun of information seeking. |
| Association of School Libraries combine traditional | | | | Information literacy is needed to survive in the |
| language arts skills with sophisticated computer | | | | modern world. Learning to read is a first step on the |
| technology enhancements to form an ideal of | | | | long road to information literacy. Information literacy |
| information literacy. There is good reason for parents | | | | requirements of the state education boards mandate |
| to get aboard with the program. Schools with strong | | | | that students learn not only to read but to organize, |
| information literacy programs produce higher | | | | manipulate and use information productively. Parents |
| achieving students. | | | | should make an effort to familiarize themselves not |
| Most school children can operate computers. This is | | | | only with traditional print materials, but with the |
| often pleasing to parents who are themselves | | | | variety of information sources available to the |
| anxious about technology, but it is far from an | | | | modern learner. Traditional scholarly journals, |
| accurate measure of information literacy. Teachers | | | | newspapers, and other print materials are increasingly |
| and library media specialists will quickly tell you that | | | | found online in university academic and public libraries. |
| many of today’s students have literacy | | | | But many parents and students do not know how to |
| problems that go beyond simple keyboarding skills. | | | | differentiate between full-text or catalogued |
| Information literacy must go beyond the basic Google | | | | abbreviated articles on the internet. A consultation |
| or Yahoo web searches with which most parents and | | | | with a school or public library media specialist can |
| students are familiar. These searches yield an | | | | usually remedy the problem. |
| impressive and massive number of responses with a | | | | Not all American parents are employed in the field of |
| level of relevance that diminishes rapidly in | | | | information technology. This can be a problem for |
| accordance with the user’s inability to sort it | | | | some children. Many traditionally educated parents |
| all out. | | | | take comfort from the keyboarding skills |
| It is of vital importance to teach your child how to | | | | demonstrated by children who are adept at playing |
| use the variety of so-called “deep | | | | video games. Keyboarding skills can serve information |
| web” search engines which eliminate some of | | | | literacy goals by eliminating the fear of technology |
| the “chaff” received in the generalized | | | | that some adults experience. However, true |
| searches one finds on Google or Yahoo. How many | | | | information literacy means more than keyboarding |
| parents have used Ixquick Metasearch, for example? | | | | skills. It means knowing where to look for |
| How many parents are familiar with internet file | | | | information. It means knowing what information is |
| extensions like “*.gov” for | | | | reliable and current. It means knowing how to |
| government websites or “*.edu” for | | | | organize the information. It means following ethical |
| educational sites? How many parents are aware of | | | | and legal guidelines regarding the use of information. |
| the increasing linkage between libraries across the | | | | It means leadership, the same kind of leadership and |
| region, across the state, across the nation, and even | | | | information management that is needed by |
| across the world? | | | | tomorrow’s corporations, hospitals, |
| Wise parents introduce their children to literacy skills | | | | universities, and government facilities. |
| early by reading to their children long before they | | | | |