The Middle Way: ACRL's Framework

ACRL’s Framework for Information Literacy has garnered much attention and lively discussion since its introduction to the academic library world. The Framework’s scope and ambition are wide, with mention of semester-long lesson plans. But from a practical standpoint, especially for those of us working with students in one-shot instruction sessions, we cannot “cover everything,” so it is necessary to find creative ways to leverage the expansive ideas of the Framework within one 50-minute class (Buchanan and McDonough 19-21). Thinking in terms of a “middle way,” how can we ensure that students will leave the session with a firmer grasp on one of these concepts than before they walked into the classroom? In this article, we will provide outlines for how the instruction librarian can use technology as a means to present Framework concepts within one-shot instruction

sessions.