• Research reveals information literacy should start in primary school to combat misinformation and AI challenges
• Teacher librarians play a vital role in helping children become safe, informed digital citizens

New research from Charles Sturt University has found that Australian children need support to develop information literacy skills from the early years of primary school to help them navigate a world filled with online information, social media and AI.

The research, led by Charles Sturt academics Dr Kay Oddone and Dr Kasey Garrison (insets), explores when and how information literacy is taught in Australian primary schools.

Researchers surveyed 91 primary school teacher librarians from across Australia and conducted interviews with 13 participants.

Most respondents believed information literacy should be introduced in the earliest years of schooling, with 58 per cent supporting lessons from the first years of primary school.

Respondents overwhelmingly said that teaching children how to find reliable information, ask questions, distinguish fact from opinion and use digital tools responsibly should be reinforced throughout their education.

The study found qualified teacher librarians can improve student learning outcomes, literacy and wellbeing but many schools face challenges including limited staffing and reduced time for collaboration with teachers.

Dr Oddone said information literacy is no longer just an educational issue but a life skill that affects people in all parts of their lives.

“Children are growing up surrounded by information from websites, social media, videos and AI tools,” she said.

“Their ability to learn how to tell the difference between trustworthy information and misinformation is critical, and that ability needs to be taught at a younger age than it currently is.

Dr Oddone said building these skills earlier will help children become more confident learners, informed citizens and safe digital users throughout their lives.

Charles Sturt’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Neena Mitter said that in a world of misinformation, information literacy is as important as reading.

“Teaching children to question and verify information early helps build informed and confident adults,” Professor Mitter said.

“This research clearly demonstrates that we need stronger support for information literacy education and greater recognition of the role teacher librarians play in preparing school students for the future.”