Cycle 2 Part 2: Information Literacy Skills

Chris is researching for a class project on renewable energy. Which of the following actions would best demonstrate Chris using information literacy skills to reach an informed conclusion?

• Choose sources that agree with each other to avoid confusion and simplify his research process.

• Use the blog because it expresses passionate views that align with his own opinions on renewable energy.

• Prioritize the scientific journal article and cross-check the data with other credible sources to ensure accuracy.

• Base his conclusion on the news report since it’s written by a professional journalist and easier to understand.

Answer explanation

Prioritizing the scientific journal article and cross-checking data with other credible sources demonstrates effective information literacy skills, ensuring Chris reaches an informed and accurate conclusion about renewable energy.

Which sources should Lila prioritize to assess the quality and quantity of evidence in order to reach an informed conclusion?

• The personal blog from the fitness enthusiast

• The study from the reputable medical journal

• The marketing website promoting green tea

• The government health agency report

• The small, inconclusive study from the little-known organization

Answer explanation

Lila should prioritize the study from the reputable medical journal and the government health agency report, as they provide credible, peer-reviewed evidence, ensuring a reliable assessment of quality and quantity.

A student is asked to solve a math problem, but they approach it differently after learning the problem is related to real-life budgeting for a family. How does the context of budgeting affect the student’s thinking?

• The student ignores the problem because it seems too simple.

• The student uses previous knowledge of similar problems to solve it.

• The student changes their approach because they now understand the real-world impact.

• The student finds the problem harder because it involves unfamiliar concepts.

Answer explanation

The context of budgeting helps the student realize the practical implications of the problem, prompting them to change their approach and consider how their solution affects real-life financial decisions.

What is the main benefit of considering multiple perspectives when making an important decision?

• It ensures that every person agrees with the decision.

• It helps avoid potential bias and leads to a more balanced conclusion.

• It speeds up the decision-making process by reducing disagreement.

• It allows one to ignore less important viewpoints.

Answer explanation

Considering multiple perspectives helps avoid potential bias, ensuring a more balanced conclusion. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the issue, leading to better decision-making.

What evidence supports your response to Part A?

• By evaluating different viewpoints, you can identify potential flaws in your reasoning.

• Listening to only those who agree with you makes the decision-making process easier.

• Considering all perspectives is time-consuming and often unproductive.

• People usually reach better conclusions by following their initial instincts.

Answer explanation

The correct choice emphasizes the importance of evaluating different viewpoints, which helps identify flaws in reasoning. This critical analysis leads to more informed and balanced conclusions.

Which of the following best explains how a person's experiences can affect their thinking?

• Experiences always expand a person's thinking by exposing them to new ideas.

• Experiences help shape a person's thinking but can sometimes limit their perspective if they are exposed to only certain viewpoints.

• A person’s thinking is not influenced by their experiences; it is only shaped by education and intelligence.

• Experiences always narrow a person's thinking by reinforcing the same viewpoints over time.

Answer explanation

Experiences shape thinking by introducing new ideas, but if a person is only exposed to limited viewpoints, it can restrict their perspective. Thus, the correct choice acknowledges both the broadening and limiting effects of experiences.

How might Maria’s cultural background affect her thinking in group discussions with her classmates?

• Maria's cultural background may lead her to reject her classmates' opinions entirely because they conflict with her beliefs.

• Maria’s background will have no effect on her thinking since people adapt quickly to new cultural environments.

• Maria’s cultural values will encourage her to embrace all new ideas without questioning them, regardless of her own beliefs.

• Maria may find it difficult to express her thoughts at first, as she is used to respecting authority and not questioning traditions.

Answer explanation

Maria may initially struggle to share her ideas due to her cultural background, which emphasizes respect for authority and tradition. This can make it challenging for her to engage openly in group discussions.

Which of the following are examples of higher-order questions or hypotheses that would stimulate deeper inquiry and understanding for Ethan's project? Select TWO correct answers.

• Does using social media every day cause teenagers to feel sad, or do they just get bored after a while?

• How does the type of content viewed on social media affect teenagers' self-esteem over time, and in what ways might it change their self-perception?

• Do teenagers use social media because it's trendy, and do adults avoid it because they don’t like technology?

• Teenagers who spend over three hours daily on social media are more likely to experience increased levels of anxiety compared to those who spend less time.

• What percentage of teenagers have Instagram, and how many of them post pictures every week?

Answer explanation

The correct choices stimulate deeper inquiry by exploring the impact of social media content on self-esteem and linking time spent on social media to anxiety levels, encouraging analysis of underlying factors.

How might the approaches be different when using the scientific method versus the 6-step problem-solving method?

• The scientific method focuses on immediate implementation, while the 6-step method emphasizes testing and evidence.

• The scientific method requires forming a hypothesis and conducting experiments, while the 6-step method focuses on identifying the problem and brainstorming solutions.

• The scientific method is more about brainstorming potential solutions, while the 6-step method is about gathering data and analyzing results.

• The scientific method emphasizes practical solutions, whereas the 6-step method emphasizes testing and evidence.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that the scientific method involves forming a hypothesis and conducting experiments, while the 6-step problem-solving method is centered on identifying the problem and brainstorming potential solutions.

What metacognitive question should Jason ask himself to better navigate the debate about climate change policies?

• Should I convince Emily to change her opinion since mine is clearly the most logical?

• How can I focus only on my own perspective, so I don’t get confused by Emily’s argument?

• What assumptions am I making about Emily's perspective, and how can I understand her reasoning better?

• Should I ignore Emily’s argument altogether to avoid further frustration in the discussion?

Answer explanation

The correct choice encourages Jason to reflect on his assumptions about Emily's views, promoting understanding and constructive dialogue, which is essential in navigating complex debates like climate change policies.