Hal Loewen (Librarian): PT 6250 Acceptable Evidence

1. How does the assessment tie back to the desired results (understandings, knowledge, skills, and values)?

If the desired result is for learners to...

(Enduring Understandings) understand...

• that searching for information is often nonlinear and iterative, requires evaluation of a range of information, and requires mental flexibility to understand that searching can be complex  (Searching as Strategic Exploration)

(Essential Questions) thoughtfully consider the questions...

• what is the best resource to use to find specific articles?
• what is the most straight forward strategy to use to quickly find articles on a specific topic?
• what articles are freely available on the Internet and which ones require a subscription?

(Knowledge/Skills/Values) know... be able to... value...

• determine an appropriate scope of investigation (Research as Inquiry)
• use various research methods, based on need, circumstance, and type of inquiry (Research as Inquiry)
• synthesize ideas gathered from multiple sources (Research as Inquiry)
• determine the initial scope of the task required to meet their information needs (Searching as Strategic Exploration)
• match information needs and search strategies to appropriate search tools (Searching as Strategic Exploration)
• design and refine needs and search strategies as necessary, based on search results (Searching as Strategic Exploration)
• understand how information systems (i.e., collections of recorded information) are organized in order to access relevant information (Searching as Strategic Exploration)
• use different types of searching language (e.g., controlled vocabulary, keywords, natural language) appropriately (Searching as Strategic Exploration)
• manage searching processes and results effectively (Searching as Strategic Exploration)

Then you need evidence of the student's ability to...

• quickly find and access articles that are needed for class assignments

That suggests the need for specific tasks or tests like...

• a scale that measures their satisfaction with their skills and ability to find articles