What is information literacy and why is it important? When you're looking for information for an assignment or project, you sometimes don't know where to begin. There's so much information available in various places that it's easy to get lost. That's why it can be helpful to approach things in a structured way, following a fixed step-by-step plan. This saves time and often yields better search results. The step-by-step plan The search process is divided into several steps. Each step also provides tips on (AI) tools you can use. 1. Orientation: define your information problem Explore what you already know, what you still want to know and in what context you need information. Read more 2. Formulate a good search query Learn how to formulate a clear, defined and targeted question that guides your search. Read more 3. Think of keywords Discover how to determine the correct terms, synonyms and variations based on your search query. Read more 4. Choose information sources Discover what types of information sources there are, how to recognize them and when to use which one. Read more 5. Search information: search techniques and search methods Learn some techniques to search more effectively and efficiently. Read more 6. Make your selection: assess critically It's important that the information you find is accurate and objective. Learn to assess the reliability of information in different ways. Read more 7. Process your results When using information from books, articles, websites, or other sources, it's important to cite it correctly. This shows respect for the work of others, prevents plagiarism, and allows readers to find and verify their own sources. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to do this correctly. Read more This step-by-step plan uses content provided by NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, University of Amsterdam, HAN University of Applied Sciences and Scribbr.