The Data Education in Schools team are thrilled to have jointly won the 2024 Information Literacy Award, announced as part of the LILAC conference held in Leeds on the 25th March.
The Award is organised by the CILIP Information Literacy Group (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and the Information School at the University of Sheffield. Tommy Lawson, Schools Technology Advisor, collected the award on behalf of the Data Education in Schools team alongside joint winners from the University of the Arts London (Digital Learning Practice Team -Teaching, Learning and Employability Exchange).
What the judges said:
“We chose Data Education in Schools, Edinburgh University due to its significant contribution to the field. By starting data education early, and implementing it effectively in schools, the Data Education in Schools’ team has contributed towards excellent progress for the field, focusing on the intersections between data literacy and information literacy. The submission included extensive evidence of external engagement, excellent practice and impact, addressing information literacy support for young people to be aware of their data rights and responsibilities and to use and interpret data critically and ethically. And if this wasn’t enough, the team has also been responsible for creating over 500 new, British Sign Language gestures”.
The Information Literacy award recognises an outstanding contribution to the field of information literacy, defined as “the ability to think critically and make balanced judgements about any information we find and use. It empowers us as citizens to reach and express informed views and to engage fully in society”.
Nominees for the 2024 award included:
- The Academic Engagement Team at Aberystwyth University for the AberSkills: new online bilingual hub and Blackboard module to help support students thrive in their academic life
- The University of Southampton Library Curriculum Engagement team and Alison Ormesher, Learning Designer, for the Learning Paths and DigiSkills Metro Map
- The Academic Librarian Team at the University of Derby for Develop with Derby an open, free-to-access online skills hub
- Sarah Wolfenden, Senior Lecturer- Academic development (Education) University of Brunel, for raising the profile of information literacy amongst new academic staff at one institution in the UK Higher Education sector
- Lucas Maxwell, High School Librarian at Glenthorne High School, for innovative approaches to teaching information literacy Glenthorne High School Library
- The Business Librarians at School of Management Library, Cranfield University, for recent developments to eRAP plagiarism e-learning package
- The Digital Learning Practice Team -Teaching, Learning and Employability Exchange, at the University of the Arts London, for the 12 Days of AI online learning programme
- Dr. Janice Fernandes, Academic Support Manager, University of West London, and Subject Librarian at London College of Music, for innovative approaches to teaching information literacy.
The award comes with a prize for the team and for a nominated charity. We look forward to sharing more details on this in due course.
Find out more
Data Education in Schools Team
LILAC | Information Literacy Award (lilacconference.com)
CILIP Definition of Information Literacy 2018
CILIP Information Literacy Group
Information School at the University of Sheffield
Teaching and Learning Exchange | UAL (arts.ac.uk)