The PLUS Model
The PLUS information skills model, which is well suited to school use, has been developed in Scotland by James Herring, who is an authority on information literacy based at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh.
PLUS is an acronym that both pupils and teachers will find easy to remember. It breaks information skills into four main parts, as shown in the box below.
| P | Purpose | Identifying the purpose of an investigation or assignment |
| L | Location | Finding relevant information sources related to the purpose |
| U | Use | Selecting and rejecting information and ideas, reading for information, note-taking and presentation |
| S | Self-evaluation | How pupils evaluate their performance in applying information skills to the assignment and what they learn for the future |
© James E. Herring
More information about the PLUS model and how it may be used is available in James Herring's books, some of which are listed below:
Herring, J E, Teaching Information Skills in Schools. London: Library Association Publishing (1996)
Herring, J E, Exploiting the Internet as an Information Resource in Schools. London: Library Association Publishing (1999)
Herring, J E, The Internet and Information Skills: A guide for teachers and school librarians. London: Library Association Publishing (2003)
Here are some suggested core skills and activities that an information skills course built around the PLUS model could cover.
Purpose
- Identifying an information need.
- Learning to frame realistic research questions.
- Planning a piece of research using diagrams or headings.
- Identifying keywords.
Location
- Selecting suitable information media.
- Locating information using library catalogues, indexes, databases, CD-ROMs or search engines.
Use
- Evaluating quality/relevance of information retrieved.
- Skimming and scanning text for information.
- Taking notes.
- Presenting and communicating information.
- Writing a bibliography.
Self-evaluation
- Reflecting on what has been learnt and being able to come to a conclusion based on information found.
- Carrying out a personal information skills audit.
- Identifying successful information skills strategies.