The University Library at the University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) has received funding for a four-year PhD scholarship position to carry out research on information literacy teaching, and is now seeking candidates for this exciting opportunity.
The University Library at the University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway is north Norway’s largest subject and research library, with over 100 employees.
The proposed research topic is described as follows:
Diligent, effective and conscientious work with information sources is a basic premise for good learning, production of knowledge and sound professional practice. We are surrounded by an enormous diversity of information sources of variable quality, hence the competent use of sources is both more important and more demanding than it used to be.
Information literacy encompasses the proficiency skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to be able to make expedient and appropriate use of information sources in order to answer questions, solve problems and learn. Awareness of the importance of information literacy has been growing, both nationally and internationally, and information literacy has been incorporated into the Norwegian National Qualifications Framework. How can we best provide for higher education students’ attainment of adequate information literacy?
To be able to achieve that goal we need to have good, research-based knowledge about how information literacy can best be taught. The candidate’s research project will contribute to that knowledge base. The research fellowship holder will be expected, through research, to contribute to a high quality basis for practice and the further development of information literacy teaching. This can among other things involve:
- producing an overview of international, research-based knowledge about information literacy teaching
- developing and validating suitable measurements of aspects pertaining to the achievement of information literacy learning outcomes
- investigate how the teaching of information literacy is implemented and integrated into the curriculum of Norwegian higher education institutions
- carry out research to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of different models and methods for information literacy teaching.
If you are interested in this research opportunity, full details of the role and the application process are available from the university’s website.
Please note that the deadline for applications is Wednesday, 18th May, 2016.