Information Literacy - Thomas Edison State University

This module explores the benefits and potential risks associated with information use in the modern digital era. Students will examine how information can be both a powerful tool for knowledge and decision-making while also presenting challenges related to misinformation, information overload, and digital security. The module provides a foundation for understanding the importance of information literacy in navigating today's complex information landscape.

This module teaches students how to critically assess the vast array of information encountered online through social media, news sites, blogs, and other digital platforms. Students will learn frameworks for determining credibility, identifying bias, recognizing misleading information, and verifying claims from online sources. The module emphasizes practical skills for everyday digital information consumption.

This module focuses on the specific skills needed to assess academic information encountered in higher education settings. Students will learn how to differentiate between scholarly and non-scholarly sources, understand peer review processes, evaluate academic research for quality and relevance, and determine the appropriateness of sources for different types of academic assignments.

This module explores methods and resources for finding reliable information from authoritative sources. Students will learn to navigate academic databases, use advanced search techniques, access library resources, evaluate open educational resources, and identify subject-specific reliable information sources. The module provides practical instruction on efficiently locating quality information for both academic and personal purposes.

This module covers ethical and effective approaches to information sharing in both academic and professional contexts. Students will learn strategies for presenting information clearly, adapting content for different audiences, using appropriate communication channels, providing proper attribution, and understanding privacy considerations when disseminating information to peers, colleagues, or the public.

This module introduces students to the variety of scholarly information sources available in academic research. Students will learn to distinguish between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, understand the characteristics and purposes of different publication types (journals, books, conference proceedings), recognize discipline-specific information formats, and evaluate the appropriateness of different source types for various research needs.

This module focuses on formulating effective research questions to guide academic inquiry. Students will learn techniques for narrowing broad topics into manageable questions, applying PICO or other research question frameworks, ensuring questions are answerable within available resources, and aligning research questions with assignment requirements. The module emphasizes the critical role that well-crafted questions play in successful research projects.

This module provides comprehensive strategies for locating relevant academic sources for research projects. Students will learn to construct effective search queries, utilize Boolean operators and other advanced search techniques, navigate academic databases and library catalogs, evaluate search results efficiently, and employ citation chaining to discover additional relevant sources. The module offers practical experience in developing systematic approaches to scholarly literature searches.

This module explores the practice of annotation as a critical approach to source assessment and information processing. Students will learn various annotation techniques for printed and digital texts, develop skills for identifying key information and arguments in sources, use annotation to track personal responses and questions about content, and employ annotation as a method for comparing multiple sources. The module demonstrates how thoughtful annotation enhances comprehension and critical engagement with information.

This module provides comprehensive instruction on the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. Students will learn the fundamental principles of APA formatting, develop skills for creating in-text citations and reference list entries for various source types, understand how to format direct quotations and paraphrases, and recognize common citation errors. The module emphasizes the importance of consistent and accurate citation practices in academic writing.

This module explores the concept of plagiarism in academic and professional contexts. Students will learn to identify different forms of plagiarism, understand the ethical and academic consequences of plagiaristic practices, develop strategies for proper attribution and paraphrasing, and recognize cultural differences in citation expectations. The module emphasizes the importance of academic integrity and provides practical guidance for avoiding unintentional plagiarism.