In this time of filter bubbles and my-side bias, open-mindedness is a desirable trait for an information literate researcher, but open-mindedness is not a major theme in the IL literature. This gap is important, especially as we face polarization and bias as subjective factors that influence the evaluation of information. I propose including open-mindedness as a threshold concept for IL, formulated as follows: "Open-mindedness is an achievement, not a default characteristic. It requires careful attention to the best available evidence and argument on a question. It finds its fullest expression in the context of a loving pursuit of the truth." Considers philosophically-informed ideas about open-mindedness, beginning from familiar starting points, such as everyday understandings of open-mindedness and concepts from the ACRL Framework.
Participants will:
Distinguish between open-mindedness as it appears in common usage and open-mindedness as a coherent intellectual ideal.
Appraise the appropriateness of open-mindedness as a focus for information literacy education.
Consider practical applications for making open-mindedness a part of the information literacy curriculum.
Teaching and Learning Librarian, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Mark Lenker is a Teaching and Learning Librarian at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he works extensively with first-year English classes and first-year seminars for the College of Liberal Arts. Mark’s research interests include information literacy, political discourse... Read More →
