This presentation will discuss the integration of information literacy and research skills into the curriculum of Distance and Open Education History self-paced courses, offered online by Athabasca University. Learning takes place through interactive, automated modules delivered at distance and online. The modules teach students through the course the information literacy skills they have to demonstrate to complete their research essay assignments satisfactorily. The modules offer students flexibility and feedback and teach the information literacy skills that students require in most History or Humanities courses and which frequently cause frustration to improperly instructed students and their instructors: library skills, critical reading, research, academic essay writing, documentation and academic integrity (avoiding plagiarism). Students’ information literacy skills are assessed in three ways: automated quizzes, assignments and the final examination. The mastery of these literacy skills prepares students for academic success and intellectual satisfaction. The above teaching and learning strategy has been implemented in Moodle successfully, and currently the course is open and students are enrolled. An evaluation project to assess the literacy information skills modules is being conducted.
Of Interest to: Online and distance education, Post-secondary education, Instructional designers, Educational technologists
