Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Recognizes the need for information

Gives examples of situations in which additional information is needed to resolve an information problem or question.

When faced with a n information problem or question, determines whether additional information is need to resolve it.

Assesses whether a range of information problems or questions can be resolved based on one’s own knowledge or whether additional information is required.

Recognizes that accurate and comprehensive information is the basis for intelligent decision making

Selects examples of accurate and inaccurate information and of complete and incomplete information for decision making.

Explains the differences between accurate and inaccurate information and complete and incomplete information for decision making.

Judges the quality of decisions in terms of the accuracy and completeness of the information on which they were based.

Formulates questions based on information needs

States at least one broad question that will help in finding needed information.

States both broad and specific questions that will help in finding needed information.

Revises, adds, and deletes questions as information needs change.

Identifies a variety of potential sources of information

Lists several sources of information and explains the kind of information found in each.

Brainstorms a range of sources of information that will meet an information need.

Uses a full range of information sources to meet differing information needs.

Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information

Lists some ideas for how to identify and find needed information.

Explains and applies a plan to access needed information.

Formulates and revises plans for accessing information for a range of needs and situations.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Determines accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness

Defines or gives examples of the terms accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness.

Compares and contrasts sources related to a topic to determine which are more accurate, relevant, and comprehensive.

Judges the accuracy, relevance, and completeness of sources and information in relation to a range of topics and information problems.

Distinguishes among fact, point of view, and opinion

Recognizes fact, opinion, and point of view in various information sources and products.

Explains how fact, point of view, and opinion are different from one another.

Assembles facts, opinions, and point of view as appropriate in ones’ own work.

Identifies inaccurate and misleading information

Recognizes inaccurate or misleading information in information sources and products.

Explains why inaccurate and misleading information can lead to faulty conclusions.

Judges and supports judgments of the degree of inaccuracy, bias, or misleading information in information sources and products.

Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Recognizes information that is applicable to a specific information problem or question.

Analyzes information from a variety of sources to determine its applicability to a specific information problem or question.

Integrates accurate, relevant, and comprehensive information to resolve an information problem or question.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Organizes information for practical application

Describes several ways to organize information-for example, chronologically, topically, and hierarchically.

Organizes information in different ways according to the information problem or question at hand.

Organizes information product that presents different types of information in the most effective ways.

Integrates new information into one’s own knowledge

Recognizes and understands new information and ideas.

Draws conclusions by combining what is already known about a topic with new information.

Integrates one’s own previous knowledge with information from a variety of sources to create new meaning.

Applies information in critical thinking and problem solving

Identifies information that meets a particular information need.

Uses information from a variety of sources to resolve an information problem or question.

Devises creative approaches to using information to resolve information problems or questions.

Produces and communicate information and ideas in appropriate formats

Names a variety of different formats for presenting different kinds of information.

Chooses an appropriate format for presenting information based on the information itself, the audience, and the nature of the information problem or question.

Chooses the most appropriate format for presenting information and justifies that choice.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Seeks information related to various dimensions of personal well-being, such as career interests, community involvement, health matters, and recreational pursuits

Occasionally seeks information about aspects of personal interest or well-being.

Generally goes beyond one’s own knowledge to seek information on aspects of personal interest or well-being.

Explores a range of sources to find information on aspects of personal interest or well-being.

Designs, develops, and evaluates information products and solutions related to personal interests

Organizes and presents basic information related to topics of personal interest.

Creates information products and solutions related to topics of personal interest.

Judges the quality of one’s own information products and solutions related to topics of personal interest.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Is a competent and self-motivated reader

Explains and discusses various examples of fiction.

Chooses fiction and other kinds of literature to read and analyzes literary plots, themes, and characters.

Reads avidly and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the literature read.

Derives meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats

Explains and discusses films, plays, and other creative presentations of information.

Analyzes and explains information presented creatively in different formats.

Evaluated strengths and weaknesses of various creative presentations of information.

Develops creative products in a variety of formats

Expresses information and ideas creatively in simple formats.

Expresses information and ideas creatively in information products that combine several formats.

Expresses information and ideas creatively in unique products that integrate information in a variety of formats.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Assesses the quality of the process and products of personal information seeking

Retraces the steps taken to find information and explains which were most useful for resolving an information problem or question.

Assesses each step of the information-seeking process related to a specific information problem and assesses the result.

Evaluates the information-seeking process at each stage as it occurs and makes adjustments as necessary to improve both the process and the product.

Devises strategies for revising, improving, and updating self-generated knowledge

Explains basic strategies for revising, improving, and updating work.

Selects and applies appropriate strategies for revising, improving, and updating work.

Recognizes gaps in one’s own knowledge and selects and applies appropriate strategies for finding them.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Seeks information from diverse sources, contexts, disciplines, and cultures

Identifies several appropriate sources for resolving an information problem or question.

Uses a variety of sources covering diverse perspectives to resolve and information problem or question.

Seeks sources representing a variety of contexts, disciplines, and cultures and evaluates their usefulness for resolving an information problem or question.

Respects the principle of equitable access to information

Explains why it’s important for all classmates to have access to information, to information sources, and to information technology.

Uses information, information sources, and information technology efficiently so that they are available for others to use.

Proposes strategies for ensuring that classmates and others have equitable access to information, to information sources, and to information technology.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary

Respects the principles of intellectual freedom

Defines or gives examples of intellectual freedom.

Analyzes a situation (e.g., book or video challenge) in terms of its relationship to intellectual freedom.

Predicts what might happen if the principles of intellectual freedom were ignored in one’s own community.

Respects intellectual property rights

Gives examples of what it means to respect intellectual property rights.

Analyzes situations (e.g., the creation of a term paper or the development of a multimedia project) to determine the steps necessary to respect intellectual property rights.

Avoids plagiarism, cites sources properly, makes copies and incorporates text and images only with appropriate clearance, etc., when creating information products.

Uses information technology responsibly

States the main points of school policy on using computing and communications hardware, software, and networks.

Locates appropriate information efficiently with the schools’ computing and communications hardware, software, and networks.

Follows all school guidelines related to the use of computing and communications hardware, software, and networks when resolving information problems or questions.

Indicators

Basic

Proficient

Exemplary