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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/Hardware Skills

Entering Students

Specific Majors

CertificationGraduating Students

Word Processing

Spreadsheet

Presentation

Database

Image

Video

Sound

Browser

Set up a device

Use OS UI

Manage files

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Information/Research Skills

Entering Students

Specific Majors

CertificationGraduating 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 ethically

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Functional Concepts

Entering Students

Specific Majors

CertificationGraduating 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

CertificationGraduating 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 LiteracyDetermine the extent of information neededAccess the needed information effectively and efficientlyEvaluate information and its sources criticallyIncorporate selected information into one’s knowledge baseUse information effectively to accomplish a specific purposeUnderstand 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.Define the problem or task2.Locate information3.Select and analyze information4.Organize information5.Present information6.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 yearo 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 banko Blackboardo 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 Universitytesting.wayne.edu/app/testinfo.cfm?eid=TECLC

Eastern Washington Universityaccess.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/giving/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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