GEC7250

Information needs and users

Mr H Singh

6 points - 2 hours per weekend school - First semester - Caulfield - Distance education - Prerequisite: GEC7220 - Only available to students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Education (School Librarianship)

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have developed the ability to discuss and clarify basic concepts in information behaviour, especially as these concepts apply to the education environment; an awareness of at least two approaches to the assessing of an individual's specific information needs; an awareness of a range of sources of brief factual information; an understanding of information-seeking and information-acquisition behaviour; an understanding of the library as an information resource with special reference to school libraries; skill in the methods of determining individual information needs; and a recognition of the importance of the information function of the school library to the school program as a whole.

Synopsis This subject aims to enable students to analyse the characteristics, behaviour and environment of information users and to design information and educational resource services based on these characteristics. Topics covered include basic concepts in information behaviour, especially as these concepts apply to the education environment; approaches to the assessment of an individual's specific information needs; and sources of brief factual information. The subject is taught by lectures, tutorials, seminars and computer-based workshop activities, audiovisual presentation and study guides.

Assessment Case study (1500-2000 words): 30% - Practical assignment: 30% - Literature guide: 40%

Prescribed texts

Katz W A Introduction to reference work 7th edn, McGraw-Hill, 1997

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