Workshop for Duke librarians on writing learning outcomes for library instruction for first year writing.

1. Learning Outcomes Assessment
for Writing 20
Diane Harvey
July 14, 2011

2. Writing 20 and the library
• Long term relationship with TWP
• Evolution of library instruction
• Now: every WR20 course has library instruction;
librarians are paired with faculty; LibGuides
(generic WR20, subject guide, or course specific)
in Bb for every course
• Instruction & Outreach staff work with new
Fellows and Grad TAs, present at TWP retreat in
August, and attend TWP faculty meetings.

3. WR20 course goals
• Engage with the work of others: In pursuing a
line of inquiry or research, scholars need to identify and engage with
what others have written about a text or issue.
• Articulate a position.
• Situate their writing within specific
contexts.

4. WR20 course practices
• Researching: Students critically read scholarly work about
their topics of interest. Depending on the field, this research may
include locating sources, questioning methodology, examining
evidence, identifying social or political contexts, or considering the
implications of an academic work.
• Workshopping
• Revising
• Editing

5. Good learning outcomes…
• Include a time frame
• Focus on students
• Use action verbs
• Name a process or product
• Are observable and measurable
• Are useful to assess (they are important)

6. Verbs for information literacy
• Knowledge/Remembering: define, list, recognize
• Comprehension/Understanding:characterize, describe,
explain, identify, locate, recognize, sort
• Application/Applying: choose, demonstrate, implement, perform
• Analysis/Analyzing: analyze, categorize, compare, differentiate
• Evaluation/Evaluating: assess, critique, evaluate, rank, rate
• Synthesis/Creating: construct, design, formulate, organize,
synthesize
Verbs to avoid: understand, appreciate, know about, become
familiar with, learn about, become aware of

7. What might assessment look like?
Shared assessment methods and tools.
Assessment by individual librarians about course-
specific library instruction outcomes.

8. What can we do this fall?
Using learning outcomes assessment in 50% of
WR20 courses in Fall 2011: a realistic goal?