Deborah Gentry, Instructional Development Center
Randi Sutter, Library
14th Annual Illinois Community College Assessment Fair
 Focus of this presentation
 Instrument development
 Project background
 Knowledge and skills addressed
 Procedures for administering
 Opinio survey software
 Honors Seminar I student participation
 Pre-test
 Librarian facilitated lessons and consultation
 Post-test
 Findings and implications for teaching and learning
 Background
 Assessment at Heartland Community College
 Instrument questions
 Range from basic to advanced and quiz students about various
information literacy concepts
 Require students to demonstrate research skills
 Allow students to voice questions by answering open-ended
questions
 Implementation
 Wrote and piloted questions Spring 2009
 Received final IRB approval May 2009
 Tested ENGL 101 and Honors students during Fall 2009
https://surveys.heartland.edu/library/assessment
 Survey created using Opinio online survey software
 7-10 minute assessment includes several short
answer and multiple choice questions
 Administered at the end of English 101 library
instruction sessions
 Honors 1 Seminar is the only class that used the
assessment as a pre- and a post-test.
 Course description, objectives, and intended
outcomes
 Course placement within Honors Program
 Class composition, Fall 2009
 Online pre-test taken 1st day of class before library
instruction
 Formal library instruction in Honors Seminar I
including a session on evaluating online resources
Librarian also present at several workshop sessions
 Formal instruction in ENGL 101 Honors section
 Throughout the semester Honors students used
library resources to complete projects in English 101
and Honors Seminar I
 Online post-test taken on last day of class
 Students’ results showed heavy dependence on
Google
 Knowing when to cite a source was an issue
 Students struggled to evaluate sources:
“Differing between credible and [non]credible information.”
 Students had trouble choosing controlled vocabulary:
“Finding the right word choice to bring up helpful resources and
decrease the number of resources found.”
“Finding the right words that a particular search is looking for.”
 Students admitted they have trouble sifting through
results:
“There were too many sites.”
 Students’ research problems in the post-test were
more complex and their responses indicate database
use instead of Google searching:
“Key word synonyms” – highlights an understanding that
effective searching involves using multiple keywords
“Out of date sources” – students are paying attention to the
currency and publication date
 Other responses:
“I have learned a lot about the research process and am pretty
clear on the best way to research topics.”
“It definitely made the research process easier and less
stressful.”
“The library tab on Heartland’s website. I now use it all the
time.”
 Method of data analysis
 Side-by-side comparison of Honors students’
responses in both the pre- and the post-test
 Comparison with other students who took the
assessment in Fall 2009
 Conclusions
 Students indicated that they understand that it is
important to use credible sources from the library for
college-level research
 Assessment questions modified to include fewer
questions for Fall 2010
 Continuing partnership with the Honors program
 Opportunity to evaluate students from first
Honors at the completion of the two-year Honors
program
 Questions
 Comments
 Similar experiences
 Insights
 Suggestions