LIS2004 Strategies for Online Research | Prof. Tiffany Walker

Lesson 2 Information Creation as a Process: 

• Here we'll discuss how information comes about and you will ponder your place in the information cycle. 

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module you will be able to:

• Explain the Information Cycle Timeline
• Recognize the creation process and the limitations of information, examining each story for timeliness and context

Information Literacy Competencies

You will apply and learn about information literacy competencies while completing this learning module.

• The primary competency related to this module is Information Creation As Process
• The primary knowledge practice is to articulate the capabilities and constraints of information developed through various creation processes

The Information Cycle

The Information Cycle, also known as the Information Timeline, is the progression of information created about a particular event or report.

When an event or something newsworthy happens, information about the event goes through a sequence of changes where it transforms into different types of information as the facts are revealed, researched and discussed.

Why Does it Matter?

The Information Cycle Timeline Helps To:

• Explore what materials are available about an event or topic at a particular point in the cycle.
• Develop an effective search strategy for finding sources and better evaluate the sources you will find.

The Information Cycle at a Glance:

Explore the Information Cycle:

Things to Consider

• The Information Cycle/Timeline is not linear.

• Information does not always come from an event. It may come from a published research article or report that is later picked up by the news or popular media, thus becoming a popular news item or story.

Review

In this module, you have learned how to:

1. Explain the Information Cycle Timeline
2. Recognize the creation process and the limitations of information, examining each story for timeliness and context