Qualitative assessment in library instructionSuzanne Bernsten & Susan MurphyLansing Community College

What assessment methods are you using?

How are you using the information that you gather?

About assessment

• What is it?

• Assessment must be tied to learning

outcomes.

• Formative v summative

• Qualitative v quantitative

Thinking about assessment methods

Quantitative Qualitative

Formative

Summative

Ways to use assessment

• In the classroom

• Program evaluation

• As part of institutional assessment and

goals

• To tell the library’s story

Why qualitative assessment?

Overview of Assessment Techniques

• Classroom assessment techniques –

simple, non-graded, anonymous feedback

• Performance Assessment

• Beyond the Classroom

Tips for Using CATs (Angelo & Cross)

• Use only techniques that appeal to your

intuition and professional judgment

• Don’t make it a chore – start small

• Try the CAT on yourself before you use it

• Give students enough time

• “Close the loop”

Closing the Loop - One Shot Sessions?

• Use what you have learned to improve

other sections of the class

• Sometimes you can offer feedback within

the same session – for example,

problem/solution

• Other ideas?

What do you find most difficult about doing research?

Summary of Results

Citation

Finding and Narrowing a Topic

General Research/Writing Process

Evaluating Information

Search Strategies

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

What Students Report as Most Challenging about Research

Some things we learned from the one-minute paper

• “the library is more advanced than Google”

• “I have seen the error of my ways”• I had no idea the library had all this• I will use databases instead of Google• I like that I can get help 24/7• This will make me a better writer• “obvious she cares about the students”

GO ROUNDWhat is one thing you will take

back from this session?