An Information Literacy Plan: Evaluation of Learner competencies and Outcomes
Diane Graham Webb and Debra P. Shelton, MSN, APRN, CNE. College of Nursing, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Shrevep[ort, LA, USA
A collaborative interdisciplinary information literacy plan was initiated in a College of Nursing and Allied Health in a small southern state supported university in the Summer of 2004. The evaluation plan for this comprehensive project addressed the measurement of learner outcomes and competencies as well as an examination of the process of plan development implementation. This presentation will focus only on the learner competencies and outcomes of the evaluation plan. To measure learner outcomes, an information literacy test was developed, which included two sections. Section I included demographic data, self assessment of computer and literacy skills, and self reported computer related experiences. Section II consisted of a 25 item multiple choice information literacy test based on 5 adapted American College of Research Libraries (ACRL) Standards for Information Literacy. A panel of content experts reviewed the test for content validity. The test was made available to 60 graduating generic baccalaureate, 36 graduating RN to BSN, and 34 graduating radiological technology students via Blackboard software in their final course. One hundred and two students completed the test for a return rate of 80%. Participation was voluntary and submission of a completed test served as consent to participate in the study. The test will be administered to approximately 197 entering BSN generic, RN to BSN, and radiological technology students in January 2006. Data analysis, using descriptive statistics will be conducted on each of the 3 groups. Comparisons between entering and graduating groups will be conducted as well as comparisons between educational programs and disciplines. The degree to which students attained benchmarking standards in each program will be identified. By the time of symposium presentation, test data will be analyzed and implications and recommendations formulated.