The end of class is just the beginning: Authentic assessment of information literacy skills

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)

Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Room 1005

Abstract

Do you ever wonder what happens to all the wisdom you impart during library instruction sessions? Do students actually use the skills they learn to access, use, and cite high quality information sources? Engaging in authentic assessment can help answer these questions! Authentic assessment is “a form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills” (Mueller, 2005, p. 2). In academic institutions, this “real world” is often the classroom, and authentic assessment can take the form of class assignments like papers or presentations. Assessing these products, which are created outside of the immediate scope of our sessions with students can provide teaching librarians additional insight into student learning that goes beyond the in-class assessment we often use to check for understanding.

This session will focus on the what, the why, and the how of authentic assessment of information literacy skills. What is authentic assessment? Why is it important? How have librarians and archivists been doing the work of authentic assessment? Participants will also leave with a basic action plan for exploring authentic assessment opportunities at their own institutions.

Reference:

Mueller, J. (2005). The authentic assessment toolbox: Enhancing student learning through online faculty development. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 1(1), 1–7.

Presentation Description

Do you ever wonder what happens to all the wisdom you impart during library instruction sessions? Do students actually use the skills they learn to access, use, and cite high quality information sources? Engaging in authentic assessment can help answer these questions! Final products like papers or presentations, which are created outside of the immediate scope of our sessions with students, can provide teaching librarians additional insight into student learning beyond the in-class assessment we often use to check for understanding.

Keywords

Assessment, evaluation, authentic assessment, student learning outcomes

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Sep 28th, 1:00 PM Sep 28th, 1:20 PM

The end of class is just the beginning: Authentic assessment of information literacy skills

Room 1005

Do you ever wonder what happens to all the wisdom you impart during library instruction sessions? Do students actually use the skills they learn to access, use, and cite high quality information sources? Engaging in authentic assessment can help answer these questions! Authentic assessment is “a form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills” (Mueller, 2005, p. 2). In academic institutions, this “real world” is often the classroom, and authentic assessment can take the form of class assignments like papers or presentations. Assessing these products, which are created outside of the immediate scope of our sessions with students can provide teaching librarians additional insight into student learning that goes beyond the in-class assessment we often use to check for understanding.

This session will focus on the what, the why, and the how of authentic assessment of information literacy skills. What is authentic assessment? Why is it important? How have librarians and archivists been doing the work of authentic assessment? Participants will also leave with a basic action plan for exploring authentic assessment opportunities at their own institutions.

Reference:

Mueller, J. (2005). The authentic assessment toolbox: Enhancing student learning through online faculty development. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 1(1), 1–7.