Mapping the Way: Teaching Music Information Literacy in the Contemporary Information Landscape

abstract: Information literacy instruction in the twenty-first century stands at a crossroads of multiple socio-cultural trends, recent technological advances (specifically, artificial intelligence applications and large language models), shifting professional standards, and new developments in local educational settings. It is now necessary for instructors to act as explorers of the information environments in which they live and work, observing and staying cognizant of these developments while utilizing the principles of information ethics as a compass for guiding their work. In this article, the author explains how developments in local settings, combined with the above factors, can serve as an impetus for reinventing information literacy instruction. The author presents a variety of strategies for teaching information literacy in music in both credit-bearing courses and "one shot" instructional sessions that incorporate existing information literacy standards and values in information ethics. Curriculum mapping is highlighted as a strategy for planning and codifying pedagogical strategies while keeping lesson planning adaptable and responsive to specific learning needs. Recommendations for other instructors acknowledge that the process of delivering effective information literacy instruction in music is ongoing; success will depend upon how instructors choose to respond to contemporary societal developments and the educational needs of students and colleagues at their respective institutions.