Browsing by Subject "information literacy training"

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    Open Access
    Impact of the digital divide on information literacy training in a higher education context
    (University of Stellenbosch, 2012) Naidoo, Segarani; Raju, Jaya
    This paper reports on a master's study undertaken to investigate the impact of the digital divide on information literacy (IL) training of Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Since 1994 the demographics of higher education institutions in South Africa have changed. Today these institutions comprise heterogeneous groups of students, by race, economic background, digital background, etc. and consequently with different levels of literacy, information and otherwise. The problem that this study addressed was the impact of having both digitally advantaged and digitally disadvantaged students in the same information literacy classroom, expecting them to reach learning outcomes without frustrating students from either group. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the digital divide on IL training of ECP students at the DUT and to recommend guidelines for teaching and learning of IL that would accommodate both digitally advantaged and digitally disadvantaged students. The study employed a mixed method approach in its research design. Data was collected from ECP students (of 2010) by means of a questionnaire; an interview schedule was used to collect data from Subject Librarians involved in teaching the IL module to ECP students; a separate interview schedule was used to collect data from the ECP Coordinator. Qualitative and quantitative data collected were prepared for analysis by means of content analysis and numerical coding, respectively and then subjected to statistical analysis via SPSS, which produced percentage and frequency distributions to ascertain findings. The findings of the study revealed that the digital divide does impact on IL training in ways such as: slowing down the progress of IL lessons; basic computer skills need to be taught in the IL classroom; and that digitally disadvantaged students find it difficult to follow online lessons while advantaged students already have the expertise to access online information. Based on these findings the study recommended computer literacy training should precede IL training and that various creative teaching and learning methods such as group work, online tutorials, games and interactive websites should be incorporated into IL education to accommodate both digitally advantaged and digitally disadvantaged students in the IL classroom.
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    Open Access
    The use of online meeting platforms for information literacy training by academic librarians: the case of a private higher education institution academic library
    (2025) Mambo, Rumbidzai; Raju, Jaya
    The study's objective was to understand the competencies required by academic librarians in using online meeting platforms for enhancing postgraduate students' information searching, retrieval and use skills to meet their information needs. The following research questions were generated to address the objective, What competencies are required by academic librarians to deliver information literacy training using online meeting platforms?; What competencies do the academic librarians of the selected higher education institution currently possess for delivering information literacy training via online means? and What challenges (if any) are the academic librarians of the selected higher education institution facing in providing postgraduate students with online information literacy training to meet their information needs? The study was supported by Wilson's (1999) theory of information behaviour. A multi-method approach was used, and a case study employed to investigate the competencies of academic librarians using online meeting platforms for information literacy sessions at a private higher education institution. The target population included Institution X academic librarians and postgraduate students. Purposive sampling was adopted for the researcher to interview specifically librarians who provide postgraduate students' information literacy sessions to meet their information needs. A census was used to ascertain trends among postgraduate students regarding information literacy training using online platforms to meet their information needs. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews using Microsoft Teams with librarians and an online structured questionnaire for postgraduate students using Google Forms. In concluding, the study presents, inter alia, a blend of librarians' competencies which include knowledge, skills and attributes required to deliver online information literacy training to meet the information needs of postgraduate students in the current digital era. It recommends, inter alia, that institutions of higher learning could benefit from the outcomes of this study in terms of continuous upskilling of academic librarians to ensure postgraduate students are provided with relevant online information literacy training for enhanced academic performance.