How
do learners search, evaluate and use information in essay and project presentation
type of learning tasks?
How
information literacy can be improved by integrating IL instruction into the
curriculum?
The Interactive Query Performance Analyser for Information Retrieval Systems (Query Performance Analyser - QPA for short) is a tool for utilizing standard test settings in an interactive way: the user receives immediate feedback, both numeric and visual, on query performance, based on the relevance corpora. QPA is used both in research and teaching. It is an excellent tool for demonstrating how alternative query formulation strategies affect searching performance. The tool can also be used to build learning environments where students may perform exercises and learn IR techniques at their own pace.
Web Searching, Information Literacy and Learning (Web-SeaL) is a research project funded by Academy of Finland for the years 2006-2009. The project aims to study the relations between Web searching, information literacy and learning and to clarify the interplay of information literacy and learning in the Web-dominated and mobile information environment. Contextual information seeking and use - observation recording, information searching and reporting - becomes possible.
The project focuses on two main research questions in two educational contexts, comprehensive schools and higher education:
How
do learners search, evaluate and use information in essay and project presentation
type of learning tasks?
How
information literacy can be improved by integrating IL instruction into the
curriculum? The empirical results of the project are applicable in the design of learning environments for information literacy at various levels of education. The results may be applied to enhance the role of information literacy in teachers’ education. The project will introduce practical models for integrating information searching into learning tasks, especially in open learning environments and distance learning.
The main research question of the team is how learners search, evaluate and use information in essay and project presentation type of learning tasks. Especially,
How
learners assess different types of documents and sources of information?How
learners interpret and use information found in different media forms (e.g.,
texts, images)?How
the way of introducing the assignment and the instructional methods used affect
on user behaviour in these processes?Team B focuses on the question how information literacy can be improved by integrating IL instruction into the curriculum. The main question raises several sub-questions:
What
are appropriate ways of integration to support learners in IL learning
processes?What
are learning experiences, processes and outcomes in integrated IL instruction?How
problem-based learning integrates information literacy to the learning process?How
specific pedagogical solutions (e.g. producing digital videos as PBL cycle)
support meaningful learning of information literacy?https://www11.uta.fi/blog/webseal/
Prof. Eero Sormunen
University of Tampere (UTA)
Department of Information Studies
e-mail: eero.sormunen@uta.fi
phone: +358-3-3551 6972
Updated 2.8.2007/Eero Sormunen