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| Information
Literacy Research Cluster |
Adequate levels of information-related
competencies are required for different segments of the
society to become lifelong learners. Often the concept
of information literacy (IL) is misunderstood and it is
important to recognise that IL is not the same as computer
skills; neither does it simply imply library skills. In
fact, IL is the holistic inclusion of several skills such
as library and bibliographic; computer and information
technology; critical thinking; media literacy; and the
basic reading and writing capabilities.
This research cluster aims to undertake research on the
different aspects of IL but specifically in: |
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Information
and media literacy |
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Medical information
literacy |
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Financial information
literacy |
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It is anticipated that there will be several
final outcomes of the research done within this
cluster, such as:
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Discipline-specific
information literacy handbooks |
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Subject-related information
literacy curricula |
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Domain-specific information
literacy web portals |
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| Staff
Members |
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A/P Shaheen
Majid |
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Prof Schubert Foo |
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A/P Abdus Sattar Chaudhry |
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A/P Theng Yin Leng |
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Ast/P Chang Yun Ke |
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Ast/P Brendan Luyt |
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| Research
Projects and Grants |
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| Postgraduate
Student Projects |
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Title
of Project: Information and Media Literacy
for School Students and Teachers
Description: Information and media
competencies are very much overlooked in the education
sector, although their usefulness is evident especially
in the current emphases of student-centred and project-based
learning in schools. With the Ministry of Education
implementing several new initiatives such as ‘Teach
Less, Learn More’ and ‘Strategies for Active
and Independent Learning’, it is only rational
for teachers and students to be equipped with information
and media competencies so that learning can be done
in a more hands-on, dynamic and discursive manner. At
the same time, teachers and students who are information
and media literate would also be more aware and adept
at using varied information sources that are available,
more critically and effectively.
This research project, using a mixed survey method
of questionnaires and interviews, will assess the information
literacy awareness, knowledge and needs of both teachers
and students in primary and secondary schools. It will
investigate the traditional information literacy aspects
such as that of bibliographic instruction and library
competencies, understanding and use of various information
sources, searching skills, information evaluation and
critical inquiry, information ethics, and the socio-economic
contexts of information creation, dissemination, and
preservation/destruction. This area will also investigate
what information technology (IT) competencies and tools
are needed to survive in the digital age. In addition,
understanding and awareness regarding the effective
use of various media and communication technology will
also be investigated. Issues such as understanding and
awareness of different electronic and mass media channels;
aesthetic appreciation and expression; social advocacy;
and social impact of media on the society will be explored.
Based on the project findings, the research group,
in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and
the National Institute of Education, will develop an
information and media literacy package for students
and teachers respectively, in order to boost their awareness
and competencies in this are that are related to learning
and teaching. The information and media literacy package
will consist of handbooks for teachers and students
respectively, and also a comprehensive curriculum for
students at various school levels (primary and secondary).
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Title
of Project: Healthcare Information Literacy
Description: It is very important
that the general public should be aware of different
common diseases and medical problems such as dengue
fever, AIDS, heart diseases, cancer, hepatitis, myopia,
and many others. They should also be aware of the various
information sources that can be used for getting authentic,
accurate, and reliable information on various diseases
and healthcare problems. They should also be knowledgeable
about the precautions that are necessary to safeguard
against certain outbreaks such as SARS and bird flu.
In addition, they should also have some basic awareness
of factors that should be considered when purchasing
a health insurance, and what agencies should be approached
in case of a medical emergency.
This research project, using questionnaires
and/or telephone interviews, will assess the knowledge
and awareness of the general public regarding common
diseases, epidemics, healthcare agencies, medical insurance,
and handling medical emergencies. Some issues to be
explored include: health information needs, healthcare
and medical awareness, health information sources, understanding
of healthcare policies, and informed decision-making.
There will be an emphasis on using IT and the Internet
as a tool for consumers and patients to use when looking
for medical or health-related information.
Based on the project findings,
the research group in collaboration with certain healthcare
agencies in Singapore such as, the Ministry of Health,
Singapore General Hospital, and the Institute of Medical
Health, will develop a web-based health literacy package
for improving awareness of the general public regarding
healthcare related issues.
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Title
of Project: Medical Information Literacy for Medical
Professionals
Description: The medical sector is an extremely
dynamic and expanding area that is replete with numerous new
developments. New medical research and their findings are
often churned out and circulated amongst medical practitioners
and researchers on a daily basis. However, with the demands
to keep up with expectations of swiftly producing new research
results, there may be clinical studies or medical information
that may not necessarily be authoritative or accurate, or
even require further investigations to be carried out before
they can be utilised. It is thus necessary for medical professionals
such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, medical
researchers, and medical students and faculty, to be equipped
with competencies that can help them to effectively develop,
store, share, retrieve, and use information in medicine, health,
and biomedicine. This research project will assess the knowledge
and skills of medical professionals, including their information
seeking behaviour and needs. The initial main methodology
adopted will be through a series of surveys; particularly
through questionnaires and interviews or focus groups. Based
on the project findings, the research group, in collaboration
with several medical organisations in Singapore, such as the
Singapore Medical Association, Academy of Medicine, Singapore,
and Singapore Nursing Board, will develop a medical information
literacy package for medical professionals. Among the tangible
outcomes of the package will be a medical information literacy
web-portal, a local medical information database and a medical
information literacy curriculum for medical professionals. |
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Title
of Project: Writing Abstracts for Scholarly
Communication: Literacy of Novice ESL Research Scholars
Investigators: Professor
Schubert Foo and Chan Soon Keng
Description: This research aims
to investigate the impact of explicit knowledge about
a specific genre on its production. The target population
of the study are computer engineering research scholars'
whose English Language proficiency is at non-native
level (hence ESL RS scholars).
The specific areas of investigation include: |
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Abstract
writing for the scholarly community of computer
engineering |
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The
genre of abstract writing: rhetorical aspects of
its information elements and stylistic features
specific to the discourse community of computer
engineering |
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ESL
RS' explicit knowledge about abstract writing for
their specialist community (Computer Engineering)
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Genre
analysis of a corpus of ESL RS scholars' abstracts
for computer engineering conferences and journals
including the identification and explanation of
typical features of ESL RS abstracts |
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The
role of subject specialists and common grounds with
them in this interdisciplinary study |
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Impact
of explicit knowledge on the writing skills of ESL
RS |
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| The abstract genre was selected
as the data collection source and a pilot study was conducted
in the School of Computer Engineering at Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore. The study presents tentative observations
that ESL RS in the University lack effective abstract
writing skills and full appreciation of its genre. Problems
seem to be rhetorical and linguistic. These two factors
have affected their information transfer skills of their
knowledge in the full text to the abbreviated discourse.
Tentative conclusions support overt genre-based teaching
of academic writing such as the abstract, especially for
the newly recruited postgraduates from foreign cultures.
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Postgraduate Student Projects
Ph.D. Projects |
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Writing Abstracts
for Scholarly Communication: Literacy of Novice
ESL Research Scholars
Student: Chan Soon Keng
Supervisor: Professor Schubert Foo |
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| Completed
Theses |
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Information Literacy Education
in the Context of Project work: Application of Multiple
Intelligences and Mediated Learning.
Student: Intan Azura Mokhtar (PhD, 2007)
Supervisor: A/P Shaheen Majid & Prof. Schubert
Foo |
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Task-based digital library for
the academic community
Student: N. Meyyappan (PhD, 2005)
Supervisor: Professor Schubert Foo |
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A Qualitative Study
of Information Seeking and Use in the Professional
Workplace Context: Using the Sense Making Approach
Student: Cheuk Wai Yi, Bonnie (PhD, 2000)
Supervisor: Prof Schubert Foo |
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