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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Step 1: Create student learning outcomes
Step 2: Choose an assessment measure
Step 5: Use assessment results
Additional Resources
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Email:infolit-team@umd.edu
Assessment Process or Cycle
STEP 1 - Create student learning outcomes.
The learning outcomes assessment process doesn't work without learning outcomes to assess. Creating meaningful student learning outcomes is the first and fundamental step in the process. Information on developing learning outcomes for library instruction can be found at Creating Student Learning Outcomes.
STEP 2 - Choose an assessment measure
After you've developed student learning outcomes, you can consider which assessment measure/method you will use. There are a variety of easy methods that are particularly useful for one-shot library instruction sessions. Information on choosing an assessment method can be found at Assessment Methods.
STEP 3 - Set criteria or benchmanrk for success
Once you know what you want students to learn (learning outcomes) and how you want to measure it (assessment methods), you need to decide what would constitute successful learning for your students. You will choose a criteria for your measurement, e.g. 80% of students will be able to differentiate between a scholarly and popular journal, 70% of students will be able to identify a relevant book using the catalog. Choose a criteria that makes sense to you, knowing that you might adjust it after you see the initial results.
STEP 4 - Do the assessment
Your choice of assessment method will dictate when you do the assessment. Some methods, such as one-minute papers, are best done at the end of the instruction session. Others, such as bibliography analysis, can only be done after students have handed in their final product to the course instructor. Some methods, such as knowledge tests, could be administered at the end of the library instruction session or several weeks afterward (with the cooperation of the course instructor). Information on doing the assessment is included in the discussion of assessment methods at the Assessment Methods page.
STEP 5 - Use assessment results
Learning outcomes assessment is meaningless if you don't use the results to improve student learning. Using the results "closes the assessment loop." Information on using assessment results is included in Using Assessment Results.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Web Sites:
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes (University of Maryland)Virginia Tech's Instruction Clearinghouse/Assessment Tools
North Carolina State University Libraries. Assessment of Classroom Instruction
Establishing a Role for Research Libraries in Learning Outcomes Assessment Programs
PDF Documents:
Establishing a Role for Research Libraries in Learning Outcomes Assessment Programs
Books:
Angelo, Thomas. Classroom assessment techniques : a handbook for college. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, c1993.
MCK FOLIO LB2822.75 .A54 1993Maki, Peggy L. Assessing for learning : building a sustainable commitment across the institution. Sterling, Va : Stylus, 2004.
MCK STACKS LB2366.2.M35 2004Radcliff, Carolyn J. A practical guide to information literacy assessment for academic librarians. Westport, Conn : Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
MCK STACKS ZA3075.P73 2007
