Learning Literacies Project

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Learning Literacies Project

• William Paterson University

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Learning Literacies Project

• Objectives and timeline
• To provide baseline assessment data on student
  performance in areas of lifelong learning
• To engage the University in dialog and planning
  about means of improving student performance
• Information Literacy (2007)
• Critical Thinking (2008)
• Technology Skills (2009)
• Quantitative Reasoning (2010)

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Learning Literacies Project

• Critical Thinking Skills
• Critical thinking is active, purposeful, and
  organized. It typically involves reasoning based
  on inquiry, evidence, interpretations and
  implications. A critical thinker considers
  context as well as assumptions and biases in
  making judgments.

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Learning Literacies Project

• A critical thinker can
• Analyze statements, identify and examine
  assumptions, premises, arguments, statements and
  perspectives. Distinguish between belief, opinion
  and empirical truth.
• Maintain an open disposition, think open-mindedly
  and critically about beliefs.
• Present and assess the quality of supporting data
  and empirical evidence.
• Make logical connections and draw conclusions
  based on evidence consider prior knowledge,
  context and perspectives.
• Create or generate ideas, processes, experiences
  or objects.

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Learning Literacies Project

• Results of the fall 2008 Critical Thinking
  Survey
• 15 Response rate
• 18 (10.2) Capstone students 159 (89.8) General
  Education students
• Students assessed as beginning, competent or
  advanced on each dimension
• Chi Square analysis - to compare the skill levels
  between GE and Capstone students

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Learning Literacies Project

• Results, contd.
• On all 5 critical thinking dimensions, Capstone
  students had significantly higher proportions of
  advanced skills than GE students.
• For the Chi square Capstone students were
  considered at the two levels Advanced and Not
  Advanced (collapsing the Beginning and Competent
  categories). Results are thus robust.
• Findings were significant with probability
  levels lt .05

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Learning Literacies Project
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Learning Literacies Project
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Learning Literacies Project

• Next Steps!
• Technology skills assessment survey this spring
• Share findings with the GE Council and open
  dialog with University
• Develop a quantitative reasoning assessment

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Learning Literacies Project

• Members of the Learning Literacies Team
• Anne Ciliberti (Library)
• Mark Ellis (Sociology)
• Pixy Ferris (Communication)
• Sue Godar (Marketing Management)
• Ellie Goldstein (Mathematics)
• Kathy Malanga (Library)
• Sandie Miller (IRT)
• Donna Perry (English)
• Miryam Wahrman (Biology)
• Linnie Weiland (Elementary Early Childhood
  Education)
• Nancy Weiner (Library)
• Hilary Wilder (Educational Leadership)
• Jane Zeff (IRA)