That face when your class is fake news: Critical librarianship in the for-credit classroom

Abstract

Librarians at Oklahoma State University have developed a three-credit course titled, 'They Wouldn't Put it on the Internet if It's Not True: Information Literacy in a Post-truth Society.' This course, first offered during the fall 2017 semester as an elective Honors Seminar, covers traditional information literacy concepts, such as search skills, citations, source evaluation, etc., but also seeks to provide a critical lens through which students can examine information structures.

Intentionally incorporating issues of race, class, orientation, and privilege encourages students to develop a critical understanding of how awareness of, and access to, and the quality of information have demonstrable impacts on social, economic, and political well-being of individuals, especially those within marginalized populations. Students are provided with the space to grapple with these concepts, as well as opportunities to interact with real-life applications of information literacy beyond the classroom.

This presentation will detail the development of the course, highlighting areas where critical pedagogy was incorporated into readings and class activities. It will also include librarian and student reflections on successes and failures, and student reactions to the course and individual topics. Presenters will also share examples of student work. Attendees will gain insight in to practical application of critical librarianship in information literacy instruction.