Information Literacy by Design (ILbD)

Graduate Assistant Liz McGlynn Bellamy and I developed a lesson planning template that combined the ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy and Wiggins and McTighe’s Understanding By Design (UbD) framework. This approach improved the quality and consistency of information literacy lessons at UNC Libraries, allowing even novice instructors to effectively plan and deliver impactful lessons to undergraduates.

The template enabled instructors to:

• Deconstruct a research assignment to identify the necessary skills and knowledge
• Align learning objectives with the threshold concepts of Information Literacy
• Focus their lesson on uncovering the “Big Idea”
• Develop authentic activities that provide evidence of student learning
• Create a detailed learning plan based on the specific challenges of the assignment.

This template was a major breakthrough in helping new instructors engage in evidence-based instructional practice and develop the skills needed to plan and deliver effective information literacy lessons.

Relevant Links:

Presentation on Information Literacy by Design presented at LOEX 2015 in East Langsing, MI

PDF version of the Lesson Planning Template

Annotated Lesson Plan using the ILbD Template used for training new instructors.