Information and Digital Literacies

Learning outcome

Demonstrate the capacity to be active, confident, informed, and adaptable digital citizens and critical thinkers who can transmit, communicate and transfer knowledge through the application of information, research and digital literacies.

Student Benefits

The Information and Digital Literacies Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO) prepares students to engage critically and ethically with information, digital tools, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), across their academic and professional lives. It reflects the integrated skills graduates need in a digitally mediated world and underpins academic integrity, evidence-based thinking, lifelong learning and employability. Through this GLO, students develop AI literacy, manage bias and misinformation, use digital tools to locate and communicate information, apply ethical standards in using information and technology and participate confidently in online environments. It supports the development of agile, reflective learners ready to contribute to a global digital society and knowledge economy.

Scaffolding

Support students' development of information and digital literacies throughout their course by embedding relevant activities at each level:

Foundation Level

Students are building awareness of academic and digital practices and benefit from structured support. They learn to distinguish between scholarly and non-scholarly sources, access readings via Primo Search and apply basic evaluation techniques such as CRAP or SIFT. At this stage, students begin using digital platforms for communication and explore generative AI tools with guided instruction on ethical use.

Proficient Level

Students begin working more independently and engaging ethically in digital environments. They use databases and advanced search strategies to locate peer-reviewed, discipline-specific sources and evaluate a variety of media, including AI-generated content. They manage references with tools like EndNote, produce digital outputs, and use AI tools with transparency and critical reflection.

Advanced Level

Students apply information, digital and AI literacies independently in academic and professional contexts. They locate and assess a range of complex, discipline-relevant sources, develop research questions, and strategically adapt digital tools for communication, analysis and creation. They demonstrate responsible AI use and maintain a professional online presence.

Course Requirements

Explicitly acknowledge the Information and Digital Literacies GLO, including competencies in information, digital and AI literacies, within learning outcomes, assessment tasks and marking rubrics of at least three assessments in core subjects across the course. These assessments should be supported by targeted learning activities that progressively build students' capabilities in locating, evaluating, creating and ethically using information and digital technologies, including responsible engagement with AI tools.


The Library can provide support, resources, and guidance to help design appropriate learning activities and scaffold skill development across the course.

Teaching Practices

Develop students’ capabilities by embedding critical, ethical, and informed use of information, digital tools and AI into learning and assessment.

  • Set clear expectations: Specify required source types and teach students how to assess credibility, including AI-generated content. Highlight that source quality and responsible AI use will impact assessment - partner with the Library for targeted learning support.
  • Scaffold assessments: Break tasks into stages and provide feedback on research, sources, and AI use. Encourage reflection on how AI tools are used, their limitations, and how outputs are verified.
  • Promote critical evaluation: Design tasks that require comparison and evaluation of sources, including AI outputs. Use frameworks like SIFT or CRAP to support consistent critical thinking.
  • Model ethical use: Incorporate discipline-relevant tools and emphasise citation, copyright and responsible sharing. Include discussion of ethical and legal issues related to digital and AI use.
  • Support digital citizenship: Enable online collaboration using discussion tools, and promote respectful digital communication. Encourage reflection on digital identity and the broader social impact of technology and AI.

Assessment

Information and Digital Literacies can be assessed either directly, through dedicated assessment criteria, or indirectly by embedding focused elements (such as source evaluation, ethical AI use or digital presentation skills) into other assessment tasks.

Support

For additional support, please see the For teaching  section of the Library website, or contact your library faculty support team:

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