(via Esther Grassian-University of California, Los Angeles; and Pierce College)
We are living in a time of alternative facts, fake news, and information poverty. The 4th Annual Lifelong Information Literacy (LILi) Conference–which will take place on Monday, July 31, at Glendale (CA) Community College-will address practical teaching strategies and tools for you. You will feel more confident about including social justice through the lens of critical information literacy in your teaching.
Critical information literacy differs from standard definitions of information literacy (ex: the ability to find, use, and analyze information) in that it takes into consideration the social, political, economic, and corporate systems that have power and influence over information production, dissemination, access, and consumption. (Gregory & Higgins, 2013). While the new ACRL Framework for academic libraries does not have a social justice frame, it provides structure to address many issues including authority, power structures, voices represented in scholarly conversation, as well as those that are not included. How can we create safe spaces for students and community members in all types of libraries, in order to learn about power structures influencing information, critically evaluating it, and advocating for information equality and fairness for all?
The LILi group invites you to submit proposals with practical application and built-in audience interaction by Sunday, April 30, for either of the following.
- a 20-minute presentation
- 10-minute lightning talks
Please include specifics about your presentation beyond your topic. How will your presentation be interactive? Will you be facilitating any activities for attendees or small group discussions? If so, please describe how you will create a safe space for respectful dialogue and debate about topics that may be sensitive. Will you have any special ground rules attendees should be aware of? Will you need any special accommodations provided by the hosts? Proposals will be blind-reviewed, so please do not include identifying information in the text of your abstract. Please submit proposals here.
Topic ideas include, but are not limited to, the following.
- fake news and alternative facts
- net neutrality
- digital literacy
- media literacy
- information literacy
- power structures of information
- creation and dissemination of information
- teaching authority
- recognizing voices present and missing in scholarship
- incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in teaching and learning
- addressing information poverty beyond access to information
- learner-focused social justice teaching and learning
- developing and assessing programming on social justice issues
- engaging diverse learners with interactivity or games
More information about the call for proposals is available here. If you have questions about conference proposals, contact Lisa Burgert (lburgert@sandiego.edu). You may direct questions about the location to Susie Chin (schin@glendale.edu).