COCC LIB 127 PLACEMENT EXAM
Background information for Faculty
http://web.cocc.edu/finney/infolitbackground.htm

The COCC Library offers the Lib 127 Placement Exam as a means for students and faculty  to assess students skills in information research.  Students passing this exam with a score of 70% or above will be considered to have fulfilled the requirements for courses in which Lib 127 is a suggested pre or co-requisite.  Scores on the Lib 127 Placement Exam will be registered on the Banner system; faculty and advisors will be able to access those scores.

 Lib 127 Placement Exam Tutorial is now offered at this link:  LIB 127 ONLINE TUTORIAL
Please note: this tutorial does not take the place of Lib 127 as a two credit course.  If students have already taken college level research/writing courses and/or have had other library research experience they will find this tutorial helpful in preparing for the Lib 127 Placement Exam.  Students will be most successful with this tutorial if they commit to reading it carefully and actually using the library resources discussed.

The Lib 127 Placement  exam is not meant to substitute for the entire class experience of Lib 127.  Students will not earn credit for the exam--they are merely 'proving' a certain level of competency in information literacy. 

Upon completing this exam, students either 'place' in Lib 127 (meaning their exam scores show that they need to improve their research skills by taking Lib 127) or 'place' out of Lib 127 (meaning their exam scores show they have adequate research skills and do not need to necessarily enroll in Lib 127).

FACTS

• Exam is based on Library 127 outcomes (see below) and ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards and Outcomes.

• Passing grade for exam is 70%.
• Students are allowed one "shot" at the exam.
• Exam is open to currently registered COCC students only.
• Test is administered via Blackboard.
• Testing sessions will be proctored with Testing/Tutoring center staff.
• Students do not receive credit for the exam.
• Passing the exam does not apply to other colleges or universities.
• Exam will be updated and revised annually.
• Per COCC Academic Affairs Committee, a brief survey will be administered to each student taking the placement exam and again after those students complete a 'research-centric' course.  The purpose of these surveys, as described by AA, is to determine whether the exam was an effective predictor of placement.

PROCESS

• Registration for each testing session closes 24 hours before test.  Cat prints out list of students taking test for Kellie.
• Students show up in in tutoring center for testing session.
• Payment at exam ($10).  Cash and check options.  Receipts provided.
• Test proctor collects payments and provides receipts.
• Proctor passwords each student into exam.
• Scores are registered per student for each testing session.
• Cat sends Kellie those scores.
• Kellie inputs the scores into Banner.

HISTORY

Informal History of Creating an Information Literacy Comptency Exam for COCC

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

• COCC Library 127 Outcomes
• ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards and Outcomes
• Students Have Achieved Information Literacy When They Can...

INFORMATION LITERACY ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
AND COMPETENCY EXAMS--EXAMPLES

California State University Dominguez Hills Library
Information Comptency Assessment Instrument
http://library.csudh.edu/infocomp/quiz.html

Cal Poly Pomona Library, California
Information Competency Assessment
http://www.csupomona.edu/~library/InfoComp/instrument.htm

Bay Area Community Colleges, Calif.
Information Competency Assessment Project
http://www.topsy.org/InfoLitAssess.html

Rappahannock Community College
Virginia Community Colleges
Information Literacy Assessment Project
http://www.rcc.vccs.edu/public/library/assessment.html

Minneapolis Community and Technical College, MN
Pre-test
http://db.mctc.mnscu.edu/Library/tutorials/infolit/tablesversion/quizzes/pretest.htm

Minneapolis Community and Technical College, MN
Competency Exam
http://db.mctc.mnscu.edu/Library/tutorials/infolit/tablesversion/home.htm

Southside Virginia Community College, VA
Information Literacy Quiz
http://www.sv.vccs.edu/lrs/info/quiz.htm