Standard I
Standard II
Standard III
Standard IV
Standard V

ACRL's Information Literacy Standards with Goals and Outcomes for Knox College Students

Standard III: The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system..

1. The information literate student extracts main ideas from the information gathered.

Outcomes

• Reads the text and identifies main ideas.
• Restates main ideas and concepts in his/her own words and selects data accurately.
• Identifies appropriate verbatim material that can then be properly quoted.
2. The information literate student understands, articulates, and applies relevant criteria for evaluating both the information and its sources.

Outcomes

• Examines information from various external sources in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias of each text.
• Analyzes the structure and logic of supporting arguments or methods.
• Recognizes prejudice, deception, or manipulation within texts.
• Recognizes the cultural, physical, or other context within which the information was created and understands the impact of context on interpreting the information.
3. The information literate student synthesizes main ideas to construct new concepts.

Outcomes

• Recognizes interrelationships among concepts and combines them into potentially useful original statements with supporting evidence.
• Extends initial synthesis, when possible, to construct new hypotheses that may require additional information.
• Uses computer and other technologies (e.g., spreadsheets, databases, multimedia) for studying the interaction of ideas, data, and other phenomena.
4. The information literate student compares new knowledge with prior knowledge to determine the value added, contradictions, or other unique characteristics of the information.

Outcomes

• Determines whether the information contributes to the achievement of the research goal.
• Consciously avoiding bias, determines whether the information contradicts or verifies information used from other sources.
• Draws conclusions based upon information gathered.
• Tests conclusions with discipline appropriate techniques (e.g., simulators, critical theory, experiments).
• Determines probable accuracy and the reasonableness of the conclusions by questioning the source of the data, the limitations of the information gathering tools or strategies.
5. The information literate student determines whether the new knowledge has an impact on the individual's value system and takes steps to reconcile differences.

Outcomes

• Investigates differing viewpoints encountered in the literature.
• Determines whether to incorporate or reject viewpoints encountered.
6. The information literate student validates understanding and interpretation of the information through discourse with other individuals, subject area experts, and/or practitioners.

Outcomes

• Participates in classroom and other discussions, either online or in person.
• Seeks informed opinions through a variety of methods.