Digital literacy/Information Literacy Test

Introduction

“The Information Literacy Test (ILT) is a computerized, multiple-choice test developed collaboratively by the JMU Center for Assessment and Research Studies (CARS) and JMU Libraries. It is designed to assess the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.” (Madison Assessment Home page]

The test measures items 1,2,3 and 5 of the ACRL standards and it includes 60 multiple-choice items.

The test is commercial and its items are not available. The manual, however, shortly summarizes all items. For example, Standard 3 (can evaluate information and integrate with prior knowledge) includes the following list of items:

• 3. Refining the search / Knowledge of search operators
• 32. Evaluating source credibility
• 33. Using data from a table
• 34. Using data from a table
• 35. Using data from a table
• 36. Using data from a table
• 37. Evaluating a claim
• 38. Using information
• 39. Evaluating source credibility
• 40. Knowing a sources purpose (e.g., stating facts, persuasion, etc.)
• 41. Identifying sources author
• 42. Evaluating source credibility
• 43. Evaluating source credibility
• 44. Evaluating a claim
• 45. Identifying sources author
• 46. Knowledge of source types
• 47. Using information
• 48. Selecting an appropriate source

The overall description of the items (manual, p. 6)

Items mapped to standard three broadly assess students’ ability to use and critically evaluate source information. This include evaluating the credibility and reliability of a source, extracting information from data presented in a table, evaluating a source’s claims, awareness of the purpose of a source (e.g., persuasion vs. factual), the ability to identify the author a source, the ability to draw the appropriate conclusion from information provided from a source, the ability to identify the type of source that will best answer a provided question.