5 Whys: Identifying the Learning Problem

Why #1:

I would like to design instruction to teach information literacy skills to the paraprofessional library managers and other teachers in my district because there is no such training available locally.

Why #2:

This is a problem because many educators lack the training to maximize the potential benefits of the library program on student learning and to teach information literacy skills to their students.

Why #3:

This is a problem because almost all educators and students will need information literacy skills in order to be successful in the 21^st Century.

Why #4:

People will not be prepared for 21^st Century school programs, jobs, or even everyday tasks, without the information literacy skills needed to:

•  use existing and emerging technologies
•  effectively research information
•  critically evaluate and use information
•  do so safely and ethically

I feel that the above ‘why’ sufficiently uncovered the root of the problem. It also has helped me to be more specific on the scope of the ID project by revealing specific skills that citizens need in the 21st century. This exercise has helped me to see that the purpose of this project is to equip as many citizens as possible with information literacy skills by first equipping those who teach. I can teach these skills directly to students, but how many more students can I reach by equipping a team of educators to do the same?

We should not only use the brains we have but all that we can borrow.

-Woodrow Wilson