Immersion '12 Program

Assessment: Demonstrating the Educational Value of the Academic Library

November 14-18, 2012
Nashville, Tennessee
Scarritt-Bennett Center

Invitation to Apply

The Assessment: Demonstrating the Educational Value of the Academic Library track is intended for librarians active in teaching and learning and those with leadership roles for information literacy program development who want to improve their knowledge and practice of both classroom and program assessment. 

Curriculum

This program will approach assessment from a learning-centered perspective, building upon the philosophy of “assessment-as-learning,” as developed at Alverno College.  Formative assessment will be emphasized to explore its role in instructional and curricular design, in librarian/faculty skill development, and in development of Information Literacy programs.  Summative assessment tools will be explored along with strategies for determining their appropriate application. 

Participants will work individually and cooperatively to extend their conceptual understanding of assessment and to expand their toolkit of practical assessment methods. Participants in this program will emerge with a broader understanding of assessment and how to use assessment as an important tool to guide evidence-based classroom, curriculum and program development.  During the program, participants will develop a plan for their assessment activities which will form the basis for future engagement with these issues both individually and as a leader of IL initiatives at their institutions.
 
The success of this program depends on developing an engaged, supportive learning community. The faculty and participants will co-create this environment, thus, self-motivated, experienced librarians are encouraged to apply.  The program will offer a mixture of structured content sessions and unstructured segments in which participants deepen their experiences with the program content in relation both to assessing classroom learning (with particular attention to the specific challenges of library instruction contexts) and to assessing IL programmatic efforts. 

While this program’s content will build upon the Assessment curriculum presented in the Teacher and Program tracks of the Immersion Program, previous participation in Immersion is not required.  The program is intended for individuals who have at least five years instruction experience in an academic library; preference will be given to individuals with five years experience.

Learning Outcomes

The Assessment Immersion Track is based on two crucial assumptions: (1) that assessment requires us to clearly articulate our goals, whether those are expressed in terms of the learning that we want students to achieve or the impacts/outcomes that our programs will accomplish, and (2) assessment is a developmental process critical to fostering instructional and program development as much as, or more than, instructional or program evaluation.  After the program, participants will be able to:

  • Define assessment in terms of student learning in order to understand its relationship to good teaching, library viability, and change
  • Formulate a learning-centered philosophy of assessment in order to inform development of information literacy program elements
  • Explore and utilize multiple modes of assessment in order to build a culture of evidence upon which to base programmatic development and change
  • Critically examine a variety of assessment techniques and methodologies in order to evaluate them for application in your institutional setting
  • Examine the leadership role of the library in a collaborative IL assessment effort in order to build support and trust among the stakeholder groups at your institution

Application Instructions

Participation is limited to ensure an environment that fosters group interaction and active participation. A competitive application process will be used to select participants.  Note that only applications submitted via the online application form will be considered.  Please read through the instructions below thoroughly before you start the application process.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the Assessment Immersion Track is Monday, May 7, 2012 (11:59 p.m. Central time).

Application Tips

1.  Have the following information prepared before you begin your online application form.  

  • Contact information
     
  • Education
     
  • Work experience
     
  • Professional activities and publications
     
  • Essay.  Applicants must submit an essay (no longer than 1,500 words) that describes:
    • 1. Your goals for professional growth related to information literacy learning, classroom and program assessment, and how attending this program will improve your ability to fully engage in campus-wide and library assessment conversations and endeavors; and
    • 2. the skills and attitude you will bring to the collaborative learning experience. 

      NOTE: The review committee will be looking for evidence of your ability to progress your teaching, library instruction program, or campus endeavors using assessment as a tool, participate in a community of learners as well as potential for sustained growth as a library and campus leader in the area of assessment.
       
  • Reference.   Include a letter of reference from the Library Director/Dean describing your role or potential role with information literacy assessment and how your participation in the program will further the library’s endeavors in this area.  Reference letters can be addressed to the Immersion Program Committee.

2.  Participation is limited to ensure an environment that fosters group interaction and active participation. A competitive application process will be used to select participants.  Note that only applications submitted via the online application form will be considered.  Please review the Assessment Track rubric before you begin your application.

3.  The Assessment Immersion Track is an individual application process, and acceptance into the program is for an individual applicant.  There is no institutional ownership of an accepted-applicant slot, and if for some reason, an accepted applicant cannot attend, another person from that institution may not be substituted. The next accepted applicant on the ranked waiting list will be offered the slot.

4.  The application deadline cannot be extended.

5.  Questions may be directed to Margot Conahan, mconahan@ala.org,  312-280-2522 . 

How to Apply

Complete the online application form by Monday, May 7, 2012 (11:59 p.m. Central time).

Notification

Notifications of acceptance will be issued in July 2012.