The Role of Personal Learning Orientations and Goals in Students’ Application of Information Skills in Malaysia

Abstract

Information skills assist students to develop and apply new understanding in their field of study, and thus hold a key to knowledge building process in higher learning. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the role of personal factors in the application of information skills among university students in Malaysia. The study was conducted in a Malaysian public university and the participants were 31 lecturers, librarians and students who were involved in student information skills programs run by the university library. The study observed the programs and examined the programs’ learning and teaching materials and interviewed the lecturers, librarians and students. The study found that personal learning orientations and goals influenced students’ application of information skills across their university leaning. The study suggested that in order to assist students to use information skills throughout their university learning, universities must help students to align their personal learning orientations toward university learning, as well as to help student to develop long term personal learning goals.