EMPOWERING 8: an information literacy model

Empowering 8 is an information literacy model that was a by-product of two workshops: the first in Colombo, Sri Lanka in November 2004 and the second in Patiala, India in November 2005. Ten countries participated in the workshops: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Empowering 8 uses the problem-solving approach for resource-based learning.

Information literacy skills embedded in Empowering 8 are the ability to:

1. Identify a topic/subject, the intended audience, a relevant format, keywords, types of resources
2. Explore resources and information
3. Select and record relevant information, identify stages in the process, and collect appropriate citations
4. Organize, evaluate and sequence information, and use visual organizers to compare and contrast information
5. Create information using own words
6. Present, share or display information
7. Assess the output
8. Apply the solutions based on the feedback and assessment and use new knowledge gained in a variety of situations.

What makes Empowering 8 significant is that it was developed by Asians for Asians. However, information literacy instruction has yet to be integrated into the curriculum for most parts of Asia and during the Malaysian workshop, Russell pointed out during his lecture that the success of information literacy instruction in Asia largely depends on the LEADERSHIP of the library and information science professionals in the region. In one of his slides he asked: Does the LIS profession have the LEADERS to deliver - in Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand? In another slide he asks whether the LEADERS in the profession possess leadesrhip skills, the vision to examine the future, the commitment and ownership to achieve, planning skills, cooperation with others and on equal footing, confidence, support of other LIS professionals, the respect of others outside the profession, and the drive, energy and determination to achieve?

The Philippines certainly does not lack professionals with these characteristics. Maybe they just haven't been gathered in one room to work on a common objective such as information literacy.