Information literacy in study programmes

Students need to learn that there are more databases than Google Scholar and that there are several search strategies to effectively and efficiently retrieve the information they need. Students also benefit from learning to cite and reference their sources correctly, thus preventing plagiarism. You can find more information on the Library’s IL courses and e-learning modules on the For students pages.

Information literacy learning trajectory

In 2016 the Library started to develop a learning trajectory for IL. The trajectory aims to ensure that students from different bachelor programmes reach a similar level of IL at the end of their studies.

We believe that students learn information skills best when teaching is tied to a specific research assignment. Also, we shouldn’t teach more than students need to know or will use in the first six months after the course. Ideally, students receive IL training at different moments in their bachelor programme. After each IL course, the study programme should offer enough practice to let students master the course material.

In the IL trajectory we are working with teachers, programme directors and study advisors to correctly embed IL in each bachelor programme. 

To support the learning trajectory, we developed a matrix of learning outcomes and generic activities at different levels.

Support for teachers

Teachers evaluate assignments, reports and theses in which students present their findings. The Library supports teachers in evaluating sources used, in-text citations and reference lists. You might use this checklist when evaluating the information literacy of your students.