ACRL Information Literacy Immersion Program

Introducing ACRL’s First Virtual Immersion Offering

Information literacy instruction is a cornerstone of the work many librarians do in academic and other library environments. And this instruction often takes the shape of one-shot sessions, brief class visits, or quick introductions to library resources and services. These quick interactions with students can make it difficult to delve more deeply into the complexities and nuances of information literacy. Yet information literacy is arguably one of the most vital sets of skills and dispositions that learners can develop in today’s complex and challenging information landscapes. The ability to think critically, to find and evaluate information, to make informed decisions, to create and share knowledge, to engage in debates and conversations, and to tackle difficult challenges and problems is deeply vital. One of the major challenges for librarians is that our instructional work is often constrained and curtailed in ways that make it difficult to address information literacy.

But what opportunities exist within our current instructional trends and practices to explore information literacy with our learners, as well as related topics such as AI literacy and data literacy? And how can we re-envision and reimagine library instruction to better address complex topics in our information landscapes, from AI literacy to misinformation to research ethics to privacy literacy? In this Immersion online course, we will not only discuss and unpack the challenges we often face as instruction librarians but also envision new pedagogical approaches, instructional activities and topics, and practices we can use to engage more deeply with our communities. The course will be rooted in appreciative inquiry, critical reflection, design thinking, and critical information literacy. It will encourage you to reflect on your own instructional situation and pedagogical identity, and to engage as a community to share and brainstorm new ideas.

This course will engage with materials such as the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, while also interrogating other frameworks and resources related to related literacies, such as AI literacy. We will also ground ourselves in the four pillars of the ACRL Immersion Program curriculum: critical reflective practice, teaching and learning, leading, and information literacy.

Overview
Week One – We’ll examine the current information landscape, reviewing major trends and issues in information literacy and library instruction. This week highlights where instructional practices are effectively responding to emerging needs — and where they may be falling short.

Week Two – We’ll explore teaching and learning, introducing new pedagogical approaches and methods you can adapt and apply within your own institutional context.

Week Three – We’ll focus on critical reflection, brainstorming new instructional ideas that address key trends in our information environment and align with your own pedagogical identity.

Week Four – We’ll turn to leadership, considering strategies for engaging different audiences, pitching ideas to stakeholders, and promoting your library’s information literacy services and expertise.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically analyze trends and issues in our information environment and within information literacy, including issues around ethics, information quality, and the research process
• Identify challenges and opportunities for library instruction amidst trends and issues with our information environment 
• Develop ideas for new approaches to library instruction that tackle current issues and challenges in our information environment and that align with library values 
• Explore opportunities for building community and collaborations around new instructional approaches in libraries 
• Utilize practices including critical reflection to develop deeper understandings of our unique approaches to pedagogy and leadership and our relationship to information literacy instruction 

Schedule 
Course dates are October 19-November 16. The course is primarily asynchronous, and you should plan on spending about 3–5 hours per week on readings and assignments.

Participants who complete the course requirements will receive a certificate of completion.

And if you're wondering, Immersion '27 is still happening next summer! We’re starting to plan and will share more information soon.

Program Facilitators
During this virtual Immersion course, nationally recognized facilitators teach and guide participants through an intensive, practice‑focused exploration of information literacy instruction.