Reflection, Context, and Critical Thinking: Information Literacy Approaches in a Changing World
Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation
Conference Strand
Critical Literacy
Target Audience
Higher Education
Second Target Audience
K-12
Location
Skidaway Meeting Room
Relevance
This proposal directly engages with frameworks for teaching information literacy and places these frameworks into conversation with different pedagogical approaches and schools of thought, including reflective pedagogy, contextual learning, and critical information literacy. The overarching goals of this presentation is to explore approaches to information literacy that respond to current trends and challenges in our information ecosystems and to consider how new teaching approaches can equip learners to better navigate our complex information ecosystems.
Proposal
Information literacy frameworks, including ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy and the National School Library Standards, often emphasize actions that people can take, from finding information, to using information ethically, to evaluating information. But these actions are increasingly complex endeavors in light of our current information ecosystems which are beset from challenges around misinformation, filter bubbles, manipulative algorithms, and, increasingly, generative AI. This presentation will explore options and opportunities for an approach to information literacy that focuses on the systems and contexts shaping our information ecosystems as well as our experiences with those ecosystems. By engaging with critical thinking, contextual learning, and reflective practice, we can approach information literacy in a way that is both grounded in our present information ecosystems and adaptive to future changes to those ecosystems. This more contextualized approach can equip students with information literacy skills that emphasize both critical thinking and reflection. In this presentation, we will consider trends and challenges in our current information ecosystems, will put information literacy frameworks into conversation with schools of thought and pedagogical practices, including reflective pedagogy and contextual learning, and will explore approaches to information literacy that emphasize critical thinking skills, reflection techniques, and contextual learning methods. We will have time for discussion and attendees will leave with ideas for how they might implement some of these approaches to information literacy in their own pedagogy.
Short Description
This presentation will explore options for information literacy education that focus on the systems shaping our complex information ecosystems as well as our experiences with those ecosystems. By engaging with critical thinking, contextual learning, and reflective practice, we can approach information literacy in a way that is grounded in our present and adaptive to future changes to our information ecosystems.
Keywords
Information literacy, generative AI, critical thinking, reflection, contextual learning
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Morris, Sarah, "Reflection, Context, and Critical Thinking: Information Literacy Approaches in a Changing World" (2026). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 8.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2026/2026/8
Reflection, Context, and Critical Thinking: Information Literacy Approaches in a Changing World
Skidaway Meeting Room
Information literacy frameworks, including ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy and the National School Library Standards, often emphasize actions that people can take, from finding information, to using information ethically, to evaluating information. But these actions are increasingly complex endeavors in light of our current information ecosystems which are beset from challenges around misinformation, filter bubbles, manipulative algorithms, and, increasingly, generative AI. This presentation will explore options and opportunities for an approach to information literacy that focuses on the systems and contexts shaping our information ecosystems as well as our experiences with those ecosystems. By engaging with critical thinking, contextual learning, and reflective practice, we can approach information literacy in a way that is both grounded in our present information ecosystems and adaptive to future changes to those ecosystems. This more contextualized approach can equip students with information literacy skills that emphasize both critical thinking and reflection. In this presentation, we will consider trends and challenges in our current information ecosystems, will put information literacy frameworks into conversation with schools of thought and pedagogical practices, including reflective pedagogy and contextual learning, and will explore approaches to information literacy that emphasize critical thinking skills, reflection techniques, and contextual learning methods. We will have time for discussion and attendees will leave with ideas for how they might implement some of these approaches to information literacy in their own pedagogy.
