Creating a Novel School-Wide Assessment for Evaluating the Effective Use of Information Technology Skills

At our college, we assess eight Integrated Educational Experience (IEE) Student Learning Outcomes to ensure its alumni are prepared for careers after graduation. IEE3 asks students to “demonstrate effective use of information technology.” A small faculty cohort redesigned a college-wide assessment tool to align with the content being taught in our Introduction to Computing course. The content of the assessment includes a test of skills in computer hardware, system and application software, file management, networking, internet research, social media, ethics, security, emerging technologies, and mobile devices and is administered to over 60 course sections at the beginning and end of each semester. The pre/post results of our initial rollout semester were compared to determine learning gain and address deficiencies. The methodology used for the development of assessment is chronicled, and preliminary data are reported.