Marginalized Knowledge: An Agenda for Indigenous Knowledge Development and Integration with Other Forms of Knowledge

Summary and conclusion

Owing to its convenience and the ability to provide access to vast information sources, more and more people have opted to use the web. As observed by O’Brien and Symons (2007: 5), students’ use of search engines reveals that the web is indeed the information tool of choice. The two authors propose various reasons explaining why students turn to the web, including the availability of library materials, currency, field of study, and inspiration. Since universities work continuously towards the efficient use of resources, the Internet/web has been of great benefit to higher education information seeking processes. In actual fact, the benefits of the World Wide Web and associated technologies have been and continue to be important forces that drive information seeking in higher education. Walton and Archer (2004:2) observe that once most students graduate, their dominant mode of learning will be self-directed and exploratory, and the web will be a key information source. This observation holds true in many academic institutions today and also extends to students who have not graduated, and to members of staff.
Information seeking in society is an increasingly critical skill that must be developed throughout the educational experience. Students and staff are expected to use a wide range of electronic search tools as they perform their professional roles (Debowski, 2003: 1). The ability to critically seek, evaluate and use information and tools for information seeking within different institutions, particularly those of higher education, is a competence that is given increasing importance. Consequently, understanding the information seeking process and developing systems and strategies for supporting it has become central. Moreover, the web’s growing support for information seeking, creation, and use, in a wide variety of applications in higher education, highlights the need for efficient and effective skills. Enabling infrastructure should also be made available to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of web information seeking.
In conclusion, one can state that web information seeking is an activity that has been received with much zest in the higher education sector. As indicated above, the benefits of web information seeking are plenty. Technological advancements have also expedited access and the choice of materials available to students and academics.