Parliamentary Information Literacy Workshop Materials

These materials can be used for training to help Parliaments find and use information on science topics.

Materials have been used for regional training-of-trainer workshops with staff from a number of parliaments. From each parliament one staff member attends from each of three departments: ICT, library and research. Workshops are also attended by one academic librarian from each country to act as a co-facilitator and one lead facilitator. By the end of the workshop, each groups designs an implementation plan to continue the training within their own parliament. The co-facilitators maintain links with the parliamentary staff and assist in future training activities.

These materials can also be used for training workshops within a single parliament. Participants may include librarians, researchers, ICT specialists, clerks, personal assistants to MPs and MPs themselves. Alternatively, the materials can be adapted for use in one-to-one sessions with MPs who wish to improve their internet searching skills.

Objectives

By the end of the course participants will:

recognise information problems
be able to identify the language associated with a problem- specifically when identifying appropriate online search terms
feel more confident handling science/research information
know of at least three reliable sources of information on science topics
critically evaluate sources of information for quality, credibility, relevance and bias
have enhanced skills in how to make use of science information
have enhanced skills in small group training methods