Metaliterate Learner Characteristics/Information Literacy Dispositions

Collaborative

Being collaborative reinforces dialogue among participants and the shared roles of both learner and teacher. Metaliterate learners are co-creators of knowledge who practice teaching and learning in partnership with individuals and teams. Metaliterate learners are open to different viewpoints, rather than only identifying with communities that agree with what they think or say.

Metaliterate Learner Characteristics and IL Dispositions

Informed

Being an informed consumer of information is a critical aspect of the consumer-producer dynamic of metaliteracy. We need to be informed about the origin of information, how accurate and reliable it is, and if it contains bias. Being informed allows us to distinguish between fact and fiction, real and virtual, as well as truth and untruth. The informed characteristic supports all of the other metaliteracy attributes and reinforces the value of objective and sustained research. Doing so encourages individuals to consume and produce accurate and verifiable information and to analyze bias. Being informed is related to creating and sharing information through all media, and in understanding how to effectively participate in communities.

Reflective

The reflective characteristic fosters thinking about one’s own thinking and self-regulating one’s own learning. Metaliterate learners play an empowering role in identifying and understanding what they know and what they don’t know and work toward filling gaps in knowledge. Being reflective supports an openness to diverse viewpoints while also being in control of meeting individual learning goals and objectives.

Civic-Minded

Being civic-minded reinforces civic responsibility and community-based accountability. The participatory nature of social media, for instance, relies on the norms and expectations of the community, especially since many traditional editorial filters have either changed significantly or disappeared entirely. The civic-minded characteristic acknowledges that being connected is not enough and that individuals also need to be responsible for the communities they design and build. Metaliterate learners are contributors to social spaces and know how to create and consume meaningful information in community settings.

Adaptable

Being adaptable prepares individuals for technologies that constantly change while being responsive and flexible to new ways of learning and knowing. Metaliterate learners are empowered by effectively using technologies while protecting personal privacy and being aware of information security. Metaliterate learners understand the impact technology has on how content is produced and shared.

Productive

The productive characteristic involves being a creative producer of original and repurposed information. Metaliteracy supports the dynamic production of information and encourages reflection on this work and one’s own thinking during this process. While individuals may have access to the latest mobile devices, they may not automatically see themselves as producers of information. Metaliterate learners are productive creators of information and learn through the trial and error of applying technology to content creation.

Assess content and biases

Authority is Constructed and Contextual Develop awareness of the importance of assessing content with a skeptical stance and with a self-awareness of their own biases and worldview.

Understand info dissemination methods

Information Creation as a Process Understand that different methods of information dissemination with different purposes are available for their use.

Recognize role as scholarship contributor

Scholarship as Conversation See themselves as contributors to scholarship rather than only consumers of it.

Enter ongoing conversation

Scholarship as Conversation Recognize they are often entering into an ongoing scholarly conversation and not a finished conversation.

Seek out research conversations

Scholarship as Conversation Seek out conversations taking place in their research area.

Maintain attitudes via self-evaluation

Authority is Constructed and Contextual Are conscious that maintaining these attitudes and actions requires frequent self-evaluation.

Be aware of own biases

Authority is Constructed and Contextual Develop awareness of the importance of assessing content with a skeptical stance and with a self-awareness of their own biases and worldview.

Examine own information privilege

Information has Value Are inclined to examine their own information privilege.

Respect ideas of others

Information has Value Respect the original ideas of others.

Recognize disempowering systems

Scholarship as Conversation Recognize that systems privilege authorities and that not having a fluency in the language and process of a discipline disempowers their ability to participate and engage.

Value diverse worldviews

Authority is Constructed and Contextual Question traditional notions of granting authority and recognize the value of diverse ideas and worldviews.

Exhibit mental flexibility

Searching as Strategic Exploration Exhibit mental flexibility and creativity.

Accept ambiguity

Information Creation as a Process Accept the ambiguity surrounding the potential value of information creation expressed in emerging formats or modes.

Persist in face of search challenges

Searching as Strategic Exploration Persist in the face of search challenges, and know when they have enough information to complete the information task.

Open

The open characteristic supports transparent teaching and learning in communities. Consider the importance of being open to new ideas, insights and perspectives. This means having empathy in social spaces to gain a deeper understanding of individuals and groups with different perspectives from our own. Metaliterate learners openly create and share knowledge by working together as both teachers and learners.

Participatory

The participatory characteristic is closely connected to being collaborative. Participation involves active and critical engagement with individuals in community settings and social media. As part of this process, everyone takes responsibility for the information they produce and share, while understanding that original and repurposed information has meaning and consequences. Metaliterate learners create new knowledge by working closely with individuals and groups in social settings. They build communities of trust that are accountable for the communications that originate and circulate through media.

Value knowledge production process

Information has Value Value the skills, time, and effort needed to produce knowledge.

Seek guidance from experts

Searching as Strategic Exploration Seek guidance from experts, such as librarians, researchers, and professionals.

Contribute to information marketplace

Information has Value See themselves as contributors to the information marketplace rather than only consumers of it.

Understand the responsibility that comes with entering the conversation through participatory channels.

Value serendipitous info gathering

Searching as Strategic Exploration Recognize the value of browsing and other serendipitous methods of information gathering.

Maintain open mind

Research as Inquiry Maintain an open mind and a critical stance.

Seek multiple perspectives

Research as Inquiry Seek multiple perspectives during information gathering and assessment.

Explore info creation process

Information Creation as a Process Are inclined to seek out characteristics of information products that indicate the underlying creation process.

Contribute to scholarship

Scholarship as Conversation See themselves as contributors to scholarship rather than only consumers of it.

Understand responsibility of participation

Scholarship as Conversation Understand the responsibility that comes with entering the conversation through participatory channels.

The productive characteristic involves being a creative producer of original and repurposed information. Metaliteracy supports the dynamic production of information and encourages reflection on this work and one’s own thinking during this process. While individuals may have access to the latest mobile devices, they may not automatically see themselves as producers of information. Metaliterate learners are productive creators of information and learn through the trial and error of applying technology to content creation.

Being collaborative reinforces dialogue among participants and the shared roles of both learner and teacher. Metaliterate learners are co-creators of knowledge who practice teaching and learning in partnership with individuals and teams. Metaliterate learners are open to different viewpoints, rather than only identifying with communities that agree with what they think or say.

Being civic-minded reinforces civic responsibility and community-based accountability. The participatory nature of social media, for instance, relies on the norms and expectations of the community, especially since many traditional editorial filters have either changed significantly or disappeared entirely. The civic-minded characteristic acknowledges that being connected is not enough and that individuals also need to be responsible for the communities they design and build. Metaliterate learners are contributors to social spaces and know how to create and consume meaningful information in community settings.

Being adaptable prepares individuals for technologies that constantly change while being responsive and flexible to new ways of learning and knowing. Metaliterate learners are empowered by effectively using technologies while protecting personal privacy and being aware of information security. Metaliterate learners understand the impact technology has on how content is produced and shared.

The reflective characteristic fosters thinking about one’s own thinking and self-regulating one’s own learning. Metaliterate learners play an empowering role in identifying and understanding what they know and what they don’t know and work toward filling gaps in knowledge. Being reflective supports an openness to diverse viewpoints while also being in control of meeting individual learning goals and objectives.

The open characteristic supports transparent teaching and learning in communities. Consider the importance of being open to new ideas, insights and perspectives. This means having empathy in social spaces to gain a deeper understanding of individuals and groups with different perspectives from our own. Metaliterate learners openly create and share knowledge by working together as both teachers and learners.

Being an informed consumer of information is a critical aspect of the consumer-producer dynamic of metaliteracy. We need to be informed about the origin of information, how accurate and reliable it is, and if it contains bias. Being informed allows us to distinguish between fact and fiction, real and virtual, as well as truth and untruth. The informed characteristic supports all of the other metaliteracy attributes and reinforces the value of objective and sustained research. Doing so encourages individuals to consume and produce accurate and verifiable information and to analyze bias. Being informed is related to creating and sharing information through all media, and in understanding how to effectively participate in communities.

The participatory characteristic is closely connected to being collaborative. Participation involves active and critical engagement with individuals in community settings and social media. As part of this process, everyone takes responsibility for the information they produce and share, while understanding that original and repurposed information has meaning and consequences. Metaliterate learners create new knowledge by working closely with individuals and groups in social settings. They build communities of trust that are accountable for the communications that originate and circulate through media.