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An Investigation of Information Literacy of International Graduate Students: Skills, Challenges, and Needs

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Date Issued:
2016
Abstract/Description:
Information literacy at higher education institutions is an important issue at the local and national levels. In 2000, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) created a set of information literacy standards and asked academic institutions to incorporate them into their college curricula (ACRL, 2000). The ACRL states that, to be considered information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and be able to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information (ACRL, 2000). Academic institutions follow these standards to teach their students information literacy skills and assist them to become lifelong learners. Library literature indicates that international students face some linguistic, cultural, and technological challenges in using the library and learning information literacy skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the information literacy of international graduate students. It assessed their current skills and investigated their challenges and needs. Understanding the challenges international students face and exploring the factors associated with these challenges can be helpful to understand the academic needs of this group of students. The study was conducted on international graduate students at the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) at University of Central Florida (UCF). The study used a mixed methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey that was sent to all U.S. and international graduate students at CECS. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with a selected number of international graduate students at CECS. The findings of the study indicated clearly that international graduate students have a relatively low level of information literacy skills. The study also showed that U.S. graduate students have a better information literacy level than the information literacy level of international graduate students. The study presented some implications and provided recommendations for future planning and programming of outreach programs and library services for international students on campus.
Title: An Investigation of Information Literacy of International Graduate Students: Skills, Challenges, and Needs.
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Name(s): Ayoub, Yousef, Author
Cox, Dr. Thomas, Committee Chair
Vitale, Thomas, Committee Member
Boote, David, Committee Member
Beile, Penny, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2016
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Information literacy at higher education institutions is an important issue at the local and national levels. In 2000, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) created a set of information literacy standards and asked academic institutions to incorporate them into their college curricula (ACRL, 2000). The ACRL states that, to be considered information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and be able to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information (ACRL, 2000). Academic institutions follow these standards to teach their students information literacy skills and assist them to become lifelong learners. Library literature indicates that international students face some linguistic, cultural, and technological challenges in using the library and learning information literacy skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the information literacy of international graduate students. It assessed their current skills and investigated their challenges and needs. Understanding the challenges international students face and exploring the factors associated with these challenges can be helpful to understand the academic needs of this group of students. The study was conducted on international graduate students at the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) at University of Central Florida (UCF). The study used a mixed methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey that was sent to all U.S. and international graduate students at CECS. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with a selected number of international graduate students at CECS. The findings of the study indicated clearly that international graduate students have a relatively low level of information literacy skills. The study also showed that U.S. graduate students have a better information literacy level than the information literacy level of international graduate students. The study presented some implications and provided recommendations for future planning and programming of outreach programs and library services for international students on campus.
Identifier: CFE0006257 (IID), ucf:51039 (fedora)
Note(s): 2016-08-01
Ed.D.
Education and Human Performance, Teach Learn and Ldrshp, Schl of
Doctoral
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Information Literacy -- International Students -- Graduate Students -- Challenges -- Skills -- Needs
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006257
Restrictions on Access: public 2016-08-15
Host Institution: UCF

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