Developing a collaborative faculty-librarian information literacy assessment project

an article by Jackie Belanger and Rebecca Bliquez, (Campus Library, University of Washington Bothell and Cascadia Community College, USA) and Sharleen Mondal, (Department of English, Ashland University, Ohio) published in Library Review Volume 61 Issue 2 (2012)

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of developing an information literacy assessment project, and to discuss key findings from the project.
Design/methodology/approach
A variety of assessment tools were used to gather information about student learning and information literacy instruction: pre- and post-surveys, student feedback surveys, faculty feedback to librarians, librarian self-reflection, library worksheets, student research journals, and citation analysis of students’ final research paper bibliographies.
Findings
It was found that the authors’ initial suite of assessment tools did not provide the information wanted about students’ research processes, so the authors’ “assessment toolkit” was modified. It was found that more meaningful information could be gathered about students’ research processes when the authors worked closely with faculty to embed information literacy assessments into course assignments. From the authors’ analysis of student work, it was discovered that, for many students, library instruction was most valuable in helping them refine and explore research topics.
Originality/value
This paper will be useful to librarians and faculty seeking to implement an information literacy assessment project. The authors provide ideas for ways for faculty and librarians to collaborate on information literacy assessment, as well as on assignment and course design.

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