The concept of the specialist information competence: cognitive approach

The importance of defining the concept of the specialist information competence is, on the one hand, conditioned by the rapid development of all types of activities, and on the other hand, by not very high level of readiness of specialists to perform professional activities in the information environment. The process approach to the definition of the information competence is dominant in pedagogical science, but it does not allow revealing the essence of this concept. The cognitive approach to define the essence of the concept of a specialist information competence is used and the definition of this concept is formulated in the article. Scientific novelty of work is in grounding the essence of the concept of information competence on the basis of cognitive approach using the philosophical concept of relationship between information and knowledge and the situational approach. Theoretical significance of the work is in the usage of the cognitive approach in defining the essence of the concept of information competence. The practical significance of the work is that the results can be the basis for the development of curriculum, textbooks, educational and methodological manuals for the development of the specialist information competence of Bachelors and Masters of any educational area at the University.