Project Activities

1.  Retreat (Fall 2001)

The Geography Department held a half-day retreat in September 2001, with both librarians participating. 

We discussed the role and place of information competence in the geography curriculum, and learned of some campus-wide initiatives from the librarians that make our project even more important.  We discussed learning outcomes for the major in regard to information competence, and looked over the ACRL standards on information literacy.  We decided to use both these standards and several National Geography Standards, designed for K-12, but able to be modified for higher education.

 

The librarians pointed to information competence resources available on the Library Home Page, and we discussed possible on-line information tutorials for geography students (and faculty).

 

Faculty shared syllabi and discussed assignments with regard to information competence. We also talked about placing information competence learning objectives on each syllabus, particularly in required courses for the major.

 

We briefly discussed assessment tools for student information competence, and decided to look into this further over the semester.

 

By the end of the retreat, we had produced:

• A draft list of the Geography Department’s student learning outcomes that include the skills of information competence.
  
  
• Sample assignments that incorporate information literacy requirements.
  
  
• Agreement on the type of instruments needed for assessing information competence, both in classes and in the entire major program.
  
  
• General agreement on which information skills and resources to target using on-line tutorials and a resource Web page for geography students (and faculty).

 

2.  Professional Development Workshop

The Geography Department has scheduled a half-day Workshop on Spatial Data for spring 2002.  It will be organized and run by computer cartographer Mary Cunha.  Goals include:

• Improve spatial information competence skills of faculty members through hands-on instruction.
• Introduce faculty to new spatial data resources for use in class.
• Demonstrate information competence modules (using data sets from the US Census, USGS, etc.) that teach students to find, evaluate, and cite spatial data for visual display in maps, charts, diagrams, etc.
• Provide ideas for assessment instruments to measure spatial information competence.

3.  Develop Assessment Tools, Web Pages

Project co-directors will meet as necessary throughout the year to develop and refine instruments for assessing information competence of all geography seniors. Will also oversee development of assessment instruments for each course that incorporates information competence standards.

Co-directors and Participating Librarian will work to develop Web pages and tutorials for geography students to promote information literacy and competence.

4.  Faculty Meeting (Spring 2002)

The Geography Department will hold a meeting in Spring 2002 to review course assignments that promote information competence, and to make sure that these assignments are clearly spelled out on course syllabi.

At the meeting, we will also evaluate and adjust the two types of assessment instruments:

1.     Those used to measure student information competence in individual courses

2.     Those used to measure information competence as an outcome of student's educational experience in the geography major.

We will evaluate and modify on-line tutorials for geography students; and finally, we will assess faculty need for future professional development in information competence.