Literacy Test-Out
Who, What, Why, and When
June Parsons, Kristen Taggart, Ryan DeGrote
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What we’re going to do in this session:
 Create a grid that can help you focus on the
objectives for your test-out program
 Define the who, what, when, what, and how for CL
test-out
 Look at some popular test-out tools
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Software/Hardwa Entering
re Skills
Students
Specific
Majors
Certification
Graduating
Students
Word Processing
Spreadsheet
Presentation
Database
Image
Video
Sound
Browser
Set up a device
Use OS UI
Manage files
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Information/Rese Entering
arch Skills
Students
Specific
Majors
Certification
Graduating
Students
Use a search
engine to find
information
Evaluate
information for
accuracy,
legitimacy, and
relevance
Extract and
digitally collect
information (text,
images, etc)
Use information
legally and
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Functional
Concepts
Entering
Students
Specific
Majors
Certification
Graduating
Students
Understand basic
technical terms
Identify hardware
components
Troubleshoot
Use information
legally and
ethically
Be a savvy
consumer
Secure data and
privacy
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Context Literacy
Entering
Students
Specific
Majors
Certification
Graduating
Students
Think critically about
technology issues
within society
Use technology
tools to
communicate and
Evaluate the
benefits and
challenges of new
technologies
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The Literacies
 Computer literacy (CL)
 Digital literacy (DL)
 Information and Communication Literacy (ICT)
 Fluency FITness
 Network literacy
 Informancy
 Media literacy
 e-literacy
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Computer Literacy
 Primary focus is application skills
 It is the basic “grammar” of the digital world
 Equivalent to “print literacy” in that is represents the
ability to
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Digital Literacy
 Computer literacy software skills
 Concepts pertaining to technology and information
 Understand, produce, and communicate information
using technology tools
 Function within an information society (independent
learning, ethical, moral behavior)
 sites.google.com/site/colinlankshear/ourlangcollections
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Information Literacy
 Determine the extent of information needed
 Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
 Evaluate information and its sources critically
 Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
 Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
 Understand the economic, legal, and social issues
surrounding the use of information, and access and use
information ethically and legally
 /www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm
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 Information and Communication Literacy (ICT)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define the problem or task
Locate information
Select and analyze information
Organize information
Present information
Evaluate process
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Fluency FITness
 Foundational concepts of technology: how it works
 Contemporary skills: use applications
 Intellectual capabilities: apply concepts and skills to
solve problems and manipulate information
 www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=6482
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Test-out Paradigms
 Who
 What
 When
 Why
 How
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Who Tests Out
 All students (eventually)
 Students in specific majors
 Students who want certification
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Why is Test Out Offered
 Students need the credit hours for coursework in
major
★ Check that students know how to use research tools
★ Make sure students have qualifications desired by employers
★ Institution wants to save $$ by not teaching intro courses or
remedial courses
★ Institution wants to ensure that students meet certain
standards before taking courses
★ Institution believes that graduates should have a level of
competency in technology
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When are Test Out Exams Offered
 During orientation
 “On your own”
o During first year
o Before graduation
 As part of a course
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What Do Test Out Exams Assess
 Match basic technology terms to their definitions
 Identify computer and peripheral components
 Use the operating system to open applications and
manage files
 Use basic features of word processing software
 Use a browser and search engine to locate
information
 Understand “something” about intellectual property
(Don’t copy stuff), security (make backups), and
privacy
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How to Get/Make a Test Out Exam
 Faculty Created
o ExamView Test bank
o Blackboard
o Commercial and open source tools such as iSpring
QuizMaker, Zoho Challenge, QuizStar
 Commercial Exam from Microsoft, CertiPort,
CompTIA, ECDL Foundation
 SAM Challenge
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Faculty Created
• Texas Woman’s University
 www.twu.edu/mtsc/computer-literacy-exam.asp
Tabor College
 www.tabor.edu/adult-graduate/student-resources/computer-literacy
Wayne State University
 testing.wayne.edu/app/testinfo.cfm?eid=TECLC
Eastern Washington University
 access.ewu.edu/CPLA/CPLA-Challenge-Exam-Information.xml
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Commercial Certification
•Project SAILS Standardized Assessment of Information
Literacy Skills
Kent State Univeristy www.projectsails.org
•IC3 Internet and Computing Core Certification
 Certiport www.certiport.com
•Strata IT Fundamentals
 CompTIA www.comptia.org/certifications/strata/tech.aspx
•ECDL/ICDL International Computer Driver LIcense
 ECDL Foundation www.icdlus.com/
•Microsoft Certified Application Specialist
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_certification_(computer_technology)
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• iDCA (Digital Competence Assessment) Studnets ages
•
15-16 The assessment “aims at stimulating the
student to reflect on the themes of digital
competence and supplying the teacher with
possible tips for further work”
www.digitalcompetence.org
Microsoft Digital Literacy Certificate Test (30
questions)
 http://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/citizenship/g
iving/programs/up/digitalliteracy/eng/curriculum.mspx
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SAM
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Points to Ponder

As of 2006, most states included curriculum guidelines for computer literacy. Students affected by
those guidelines are just now enrolling in college.

In common discourse,... "computer literate" often connotes little more than the ability to use several
very specific applications (usually Microsoft Word, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Microsoft
Outlook) for certain very well-defined simple tasks, largely by rote.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_literacy)

After students test-out of computer literacy, what other digital literacy competencies do you expect
them to master before they graduate?

How will you afford students the opportunity to gain college-level digital literacy?

o
Liberal studies requirements?
o
Major coursework?
o
Self-study?
Testing out doesn’t mean you know it all!
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