Metaliterate learning for the post-truth world

CHICAGO — Metaliteracy, Thomas P. Mackey and Trudi E. Jacobson’s revolutionary framework for information literacy, is especially well suited as a tool for ensuring that learners can successfully navigate today’s information morass. Indeed, it is starkly evident that the competencies, knowledge, and personal attributes specific to metaliterate individuals are critical; digital literacy and traditional conceptions of information literacy are insufficient for the significant challenges we currently face. “Metaliterate Learning for the Post-Truth World,” published by ALA Neal-Schuman, examines the newest version of the Metaliteracy Goals and Learning Objectives, including the four domains of metaliterate learning, as well as the relationship between metaliteracy and the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Featuring contributions from a variety of information literacy instructors, educators, librarians, and faculty, the chapters in this book:

• discuss the social, political, and ethical dimensions of information creation, distribution, and use;
• use case studies to demonstrate how metaliteracy guides learners to read online information with a critical eye, apply metacognitive thinking to the consumption of all information, and make purposeful and responsible contributions to the social media ecosystem as active participants;
• examine when images are taken out of context and paired with misleading text, a prevalent feature of the misinformation frequently shared via social media; and
• situates metaliteracy in such contexts such as the academic library, a science class, fiction writing, digital storytelling, and a theater arts course.

Mackey and Jacobson’s previous collaborations include “Metaliteracy: Reinventing Information Literacy to Empower Learners” and “Metaliteracy in Practice.” Together they lead the Metaliteracy Learning Collaborative on the development of metaliteracy-related research, writing, teaching, grant projects, and the design of innovative learning spaces using competency-based digital badging and massive open online courses (MOOCs). Mackey is Professor in the Department of Arts and Media at SUNY Empire State College. His website is https://sites.google.com/view/thomaspmackey/home. Jacobson, Distinguished Librarian, is Head of the Information Literacy Department at the University Libraries, University at Albany. Her website is trudijacobson.com.

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