According to the workshop, what is the primary goal of teaching information literacy to K-2 students?
The primary goal of teaching information literacy to K-2 students is helping students develop a habit of mind to ask ‘How do we know?’ and ‘Who said so?’
Information literacy for early elementary learners isn’t about navigating complex academic databases or formatting citations. Instead, it focuses entirely on building foundational critical thinking habits. Young children naturally absorb the media, stories, and information presented to them. By training them to pause and ask simple questions about the source, educators instill a healthy sense of curiosity.
Teaching kids to ask “Who created this?” or “How do we know this is true?” establishes a framework for evaluating credibility. This early habit formation protects students as they begin interacting with digital spaces. Rather than accepting every video, image, or statement at face value, they learn to look for evidence. Setting this standard in kindergarten through second grade provides the mental scaffolding students will rely on for more advanced research later in their academic journey.