Assessment in Action: First Year Seminar (2013): AiA in the FYS

As a result of multiple instances of information literacy instruction from the first year seminar to upper division courses students will think and act as strategic researchers.

1. 4 sessions (2 ftf & 2 online modules) + end of term survey

2. One-shot session incorporating the AiA learning outcomes for FYS + end of term survey

3. One-shot session not addressing AiA learning outcomes for FYS + end of term survey

4. No IL instruction + end of term survey

As a result of [one-shot or multiple instances] of information literacy instruction in the first-year seminar students will …

(1)    demonstrate increased evaluative skills with a variety of information sources;

(2)    be able to identify the elements of a citation;

(3)    be able to describe/explain the purpose of citation in scholarship (and in other aspects of life?)

(4)    select appropriate information sources for diverse situations;

(5)     demonstrate an increased ability to interpret visual and textual biases and cues. 

Pre- and Post-Survey + Rubric: administered during New Student Week and at the end of fall semester.

Student Interviews

Faculty Interviews

In-class assessments (One-Minute Papers)

Quizzes (connected with online modules, "Using Information Ethically" and "Information Through Multiple Lenses")

-Locate a popular magazine article and a scholarly article on the same subject. Compare the two articles for content, style, bias, audience, etc.

(Meets the following AiA FYS Learning Oucomes: (1) demonstrate increased evaluative skills with a variety of information sources; (4) select appropriate information sources for diverse situations; and (5) demonstrate an increased ability to interpret visual and textual biases and cues.)

-Compare coverage of the same topic in: Reference books, news sources, journals, the open web, government documents, BLOGs, YouTube.

(Meets the following AiA FYS Learning Oucomes: (1) demonstrate increased evaluative skills with a variety of information sources; (4) select appropriate information sources for diverse situations; and (5) demonstrate an increased ability to interpret visual and textual biases and cues.)

-Contextualize and/or identify the opposing views to a political cartoon, editorial opinion, iconic photograph, or advertisement.

(Meets the following AiA FYS Learning Oucomes: (1) demonstrate increased evaluative skills with a variety of information sources; (4) select appropriate information sources for diverse situations; and (5) demonstrate an increased ability to interpret visual and textual biases and cues.)

-Evaluate a website with criteria such as authority, currency, bias, and accuracy. Compare different types of websites and their treatment of the same topic.

(Meets the following AiA FYS Learning Oucomes: (1) demonstrate increased evaluative skills with a variety of information sources; (4) select appropriate information sources for diverse situations; and (5) demonstrate an increased ability to interpret visual and textual biases and cues.)

-Create citations for 2-3 different types of information sources. Reflect on why students in higher education cite other works and why scholars of various disciplines cite other works. Engage with the class in a discussion on this topic. What is the purpose of citation?

(Meets the following AiA FYS Learning Oucomes: (2) be able to identify the elements of a citation; and (3) be able to descibe/explain the purpose of citation in scholarship (and in other aspects of life).

-Have students skim/read through a Wikipedia article that “needs additional citations for verification” (i.e. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nornagest).  Use this to discuss the function of citation, giving credit, referencing.  Follow up by having students create citations for 2-3 different types of information sources.  Discuss important bits of information in citations.

(Meets the following AiA FYS Learning Oucomes: (2) be able to identify the elements of a citation; and (3) be able to descibe/explain the purpose of citation in scholarship (and in other aspects of life).