How can you align your institution's needs with your information literacy program?

1 Identify your institution's mission and vision

The first step is to understand your institution's mission and vision, as well as its strategic plans and priorities. These documents will provide you with the context and direction for your information literacy programs. You should be able to answer questions such as: What are the values and principles of your institution? What are the expected outcomes and competencies of your learners? What are the challenges and opportunities that your institution faces? How can your information literacy programs support your institution's mission and vision?

2 Conduct a needs assessment

The next step is to conduct a needs assessment to identify the information literacy needs of your target audience. You can use various methods to collect data, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, or tests. You should aim to gather information about the current level of information literacy skills, the gaps and challenges, the learning preferences and styles, and the expectations and motivations of your learners. You should also consider the needs of other stakeholders, such as faculty, administrators, or employers.

3 Design your learning outcomes and objectives

Based on the results of your needs assessment, you can design your learning outcomes and objectives for your information literacy programs. Learning outcomes are broad statements that describe what your learners will be able to do or know after completing your programs. Learning objectives are specific and measurable statements that describe the steps or tasks that your learners will perform to achieve the learning outcomes. You should align your learning outcomes and objectives with your institution's mission and vision, as well as the information literacy standards and frameworks in your field.

4 Develop your curriculum and content

The next step is to develop your curriculum and content for your information literacy programs. Your curriculum should include the scope and sequence of your topics, the format and delivery mode of your programs, the resources and materials that you will use, and the assessment and evaluation methods that you will employ. Your content should be relevant, engaging, and interactive for your learners. You should also consider the diversity and accessibility of your learners, and use inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogy.

5 Implement and evaluate your programs

The final step is to implement and evaluate your information literacy programs. You should communicate your programs to your target audience and other stakeholders, and solicit their feedback and support. You should also monitor and document the implementation process, and identify any issues or challenges that may arise. You should evaluate your programs using both formative and summative methods, and measure the impact and effectiveness of your programs on your learners' information literacy skills. You should also reflect on your own practice and professional development as an information literacy instructor.