The articles addressed reforming IL to include more technology in IL instruction.

An interesting theme in the articles is the idea of modifying traditional definitions of IL to include additional competencies. The articles again seem to address this large importance on critical thinking, collaboration and technology. The Mackey and Jackson article specifically addresses this need and the similarities between different types of IL. One of the points brought up in the article that I found fascinating is the idea that there are similar characteristics between information literacy and other forms of literacy that contribute to a users ability to contribute and share information using various Web 2.0 technologies (or as the authors like to call to metaliteracy). I guess what really turned me on about this point is that librarians and other information professionals often overlook this portion of information. I dont think librarians recognized the value of what we posted on the Internet such as on blogs, Wikis, and social media to be information. I mean if you think about it what we post on the Internet is viewable to anyone and impacts that person in some way or in another. I think it only seems reasonable to educate todays users to effectively use and share information. I am curious to see how academic and public librarians respond. Overall, I really enjoyed the Mackey and Jackson. They had some very solid points such as: Metaliteracy challenges the traditional definition of IL by incorporating related elements of literacy types and emerging technologies traditional definitions of IL are insufficient for the revolutionary social technologies currently prevalent online. P. 62-3. Organizations such as ALA, ACRL, and the Society of College, national, and University Libraries in the UK have developed IL standards, but have not fully incorporated technology into them. Critical thinking practiced in IL is still important because it creates a foundation for information literacy. p. 76. Metaliteracy provides a framework for IL that diminishes theoretical differences, builds practical connections, and reinforces central lifelong learning. p.76 The main take away I took from the article is that sharing and collaborating online is big and librarians should take the plunge and modify their instructions to cover some portions of this. As the article mentioned producing and sharing information are significant activities for lifelong learning in social media environments and online communities and we should instruct users on how to determine, access, evaluate, incorporate, use and understand, produce, collaborate, and share information. The authors make a good point that librarians should no longer be teaching a set of skills, but rather a way to continuously adapt themselves to new technologies and information and instruct users on how to learn.