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This youtube video offers a summary of the Truth be Told: How College Students Evaluate and Use Information in the Digital Age Project Information Literacy Progress report by Alison Head and Michael Eisenberg. The report deals with college students and their information-seeking strategies and research difficulties, including findings from 8,353 survey respondents from college students on 25 campuses distributed across the U.S. in spring of 2010, as part of Project Information Literacy.
Overall, the findings suggest students use an information-seeking and research strategy driven by efficiency and predictability for managing and controlling all of the information available to them on college campuses, though conducting comprehensive research and learning something new is important to most, along with passing the course and the grade received.
Some of the results are not surprising–students reported difficulties getting started with research assignments and determining the nature and scope of what was required of them. Other finding suggest that college students aren’t as information illiterate as many assume. The 36 page report offers valuable information that we can use to inform the development of effective learning environments.
Thanks to Richard Beck for sending this information my way.