Latino Studies and Information Literacy Competencies (original) (raw)

From Challenge to Absorption: The Changing Face of Latino Studies

2003

Over the last three decades Latino studies scholarship has gained increased academic acceptance. However, many administrators continue to doubt the wisdom of sustaining autonomous Latino studies departments, and are devising alternative approaches for incorporating Latino-based knowledge into the university's mission. This article discusses

Hispanic College Students Library Experience

Contemporary Issues in Education Research (CIER), 2015

This study looks at undergraduate Hispanic students interpretations and current perceptions of the academic librarys purpose, usefulness and value. What are the reasons to use the library? What are the barriers to use? This study will examine academic libraries move toward electronic library materials and what it means for Hispanic students. The results of this study will help academic libraries at Hispanic Serving Institutions to better understand how they are currently being perceived and what they need to do to market themselves and their collections to better serve Hispanic students.

Focus on Latino Learners: Developing a Foundational Understanding of Latino Cultures to Cultivate Student Success

With the dramatic increase of diverse student populations in U.S. schools, educators and school professionals are encountering significant difficulties in meeting the needs of struggling students and establishing an overall positive academic climate. This is particularly true with the influx of Latino students, who now constitute the majority of diverse populations in many parts of the country. Furthermore, Latinos are the projected majority population of the United States. Research has indicated a failure to meet the diverse needs of Latino students. As a group, they have historically experienced overrepresentation in disability categories, received a disproportionate number of disciplinary actions, and evidence high dropout rates. In this article, the authors discuss educational and social issues facing Latino populations, present specific points focused on the development of a better understanding of Latino cultures, and offer recommendations regarding ways to better meet the needs of this growing population.

Benefits of Culturally Relevant Literature on Latino Students

2019

The Latino population is growing in the United States such that one of every five schoolaged Latino children comes from a home in which a language other than English is spoken. Many Latino students are placed in English-only classrooms where their language and culture are not reflected in the curriculum. In particular, Latino students are mainly exposed to books that include middle-class white characters. Thus, Latino students do not see themselves reflected in the books they read. Given this problem, educators must incorporate culturally relevant literature into the curriculum. This capstone analyzes the benefits of culturally relevant literature for Latino students through the review of the literature, interviews with five teachers, and an anonymous survey of five students. The findings reveal various criteria which teachers use for selecting quality Latino literature, a list of quality Latino literature, and student insights about the power of Latino literature to engage students in their academic and personal lives.