UAA chosen to participate in information literacy assessment

The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is one of only five institutions nationwide selected to participate in the RAILS (Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills) project during the 2011-2012 academic year. RAILS is based at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies and led by Assistant Professor Megan Oakleaf. The 3-year project seeks to measure information literacy skills of college students and is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

RAILS is designed to help librarians and academic faculty develop and test rubrics that evaluate student learning and information literacy.

During the first year of the grant, UAA will be represented by Deborah Mole, associate professor and reference and instruction librarian. Deborah Mole was selected from librarians attending the Association of College and Research Libraries Assessment Immersion Program, an intensive professional development experience focused on building librarian capacity to assess student learning. She will participate in extensive rubric training and then organize librarians and academic faculty on their campuses to assess student work samples.