Haven't had a chance to investigate this one Internet research tutorial closely but it looks promising...

Internet Detective, a free online tutorial designed to help students develop the critical thinking required for their Internet research, in the RDN Virtual Training Suite at: http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/
The tutorial offers practical advice on evaluating the quality of websites and highlights the need for care when selecting online information sources to inform university or college work.

Have a look!

Internet Filter issue

You may have seen something in the general press or in ALIA publications about the federal government proposing Internet filters on Internet computers in public libraries.
Here is the latest from the ALIA InfoLit Forum


Dear Colleagues,
Late yesterday ALIA issued a response to Minister Coonan's announcement of the Protecting Families Online program - more information is linked from the ALIA Home at http://www.alia.org.au/
You may also wish to revisit our 2005 survey on Internet Use in Public Libraries http://alia.org.au/advocacy/internet.access/
Today the Sydney Morning Herald gives the community the opportunity to comment via the web on Internet Filters. You may also wish to add your comments to http://blogs.smh.com.au/newsblog/archives//004955.html
Regards
Sue Hutley
--
Sue Hutley
Executive director
Australian Library and Information Association PO Box 6335 Kingston ACT 2604 Australia ph 02 6215 8215 fx 02 6282 2249 sue.hutley@alia.org.au

Toolboxes aren't scary - free learning objects

If you're interested in having another look at Toolboxes, or want to know what the interns are up to, the Toolbox Repository is a good place to start. There are various free learning objects from Series 3 -7 toolboxes.

A Toolbox is a collection of resources, and supporting material to support a Training Package, and learning objects address one level of competency. Each learning object will have some information/fact sheets, instructions, exercises and quizes, fact sheets and are often on general & useful topics such as Visual communication/poster design.

Go to http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/index.htm and click on Toolbox Repository on the left navigation toolbar.
Enter your keywords to search - it will look in all toolboxes
From the list , click on the item titles to view them
Anything you like, click download to save object

Alternatively, click on the "About section" link under the search box
Then click on any of the toolboxes to browse the available learning objects
Anything you like, click download to save object

Have a go - and be able to make conversation with an intern or a former intern!

Toolboxes Series 9

At last a Toolbox bonanza for the Engineering area. In the latest crop of five Toolboxes, there is a Fabrication trade (Metal and Engineering Training Package) and Sales, mechanical, technology and vehicle body (Automotive Retail Service and Repair Training Package). Also in the Series 9 is a Community safety (Public Safety Training Package) that is being promoted heavily, and Employment services (Community Health and Services Training Package) which has the potential to be taken up as a teaching area by HACS (?!) and Food Safety auditing (Food Processing Training Package), also a possible future teaching area as we have substantial short course enrolments in Food Handling.

Food for thought - IL

Here are some articles from the latest IFLA conference via our trusty correspondant George - have a read and be involved in discussion here and at IS meetings!

Abstract:
A basic online tutorial named ELISE (Enabling Library and Information Skills for Everyone) was launched by UNSW Library and piloted in 2005. This paper aims to document the collaborative development of ELISE as a pre-information literacy tutorial, discusses the tutorial and pedagogical dimensions of its delivery to some 10,000 entering students and examines student assessment outcomes. It will also present an analysis of qualitative data from student feedback, which inform improvements to the program and some of the impacts on the overall information literacy program within UNSW. A summary of findings by way of an evaluation of student surveys establishes the positive acceptance and use of the ELISE tutorial and indicates some future directions for this mandatory enrolment requirement.

http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla72/papers/125-Tantiongco_Evison-en.pdf

Abstract:
Information literacy has become an important element in higher education. The information literacy movement has internationally recognized standards and learning outcomes. The step-by-step process of achieving information literacy is particularly crucial in an era where knowledge could be disseminated through a variety of media. Academic librarians could become even more effective if they are linked to curriculum development where faculty and librarians work together to achieve learning outcomes. This case study describes the steps taken by the authors to integrate information literacy skills in a new curriculum.
http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla72/papers/125-Dakshinamurti_Horne-en.pdf