Promoting digital citizenship in first-year students: Framing information literacy as a tool to help peers |
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| Authors: | Sabrina N Thomas |
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| Institution: | Marshall University Libraries, Huntington, West Virginia, USA |
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| Abstract: | This article explores the creation and implementation of a high-impact, hands-on assignment that both challenges and transforms students' perception of the power of information. The author created a web-based project in which students designed, organized, and promoted their own web portal for peers who were struggling with substance abuse addiction. In order to create buy-in from the students, the assignment's purpose centered on the concept of digital citizenship. The idea behind this concept is to encourage students to use information ethically and to help their fellow digital citizens find and use information ethically as well. In realizing the power of credible, useful information, the project aimed to encourage students to use this power to help their peers who may be struggling. Once the students demonstrated a firm understanding of information literacy, the assignment provided the challenge to put their abilities to practice in student-led small groups that were each in charge of a section of the website. The structure of the class mirrored a workplace environment where the teams set deadlines that were approved by group vote. In the end, each of the students had a hand in creating an open access website that included information that could help their peers in the “real world.” |
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| Keywords: | Digital citizenship first-year students framework information literacy self-directed learning web project |
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