LIS-S 505 Evaluation of Information Sources and Services
3 credits
- Prerequisite(s): LIS-S 500, LIS-S 507
- Delivery: Online
- Semesters offered: Fall, Spring (Check the schedule to confirm.)
Description
This course is designed to explore evaluation as a tool for the improvement of programs, services, and initiatives in information organizations. Evaluation is a process to explore the needs of users (and non-users) and examine how well information organizations support those needs. We evaluate information sources to help us make evidence-based decisions and take strategic approaches to program and service evaluation design, and we take a human-centered approach to service and program evaluation.
Program Learning Goals Supported
Instructors map their courses to specific LIS Program Goals. Mapped program goals drive the design of each course and what students can expect to generally learn.
- Connect Core Values and Professional Ethics to Practice
- Facilitate Engagement in the Information Ecosystem
- Lead and Manage Libraries, Archives and Other Information Organizations
- Organize and Represent Information
- Conduct Systematic Research to Inform Decisions
- Innovate Professional Practice with Information Services and Technology
- Examine Systemic Inequalities to Improve Library and Information Practices through Equitable and Socially Just Interventions
Learning Outcomes
Instructors develop learning outcomes for their courses. Students can expect to be able to achieve the learning outcomes for a given course after successfully completing the course.
- Analyze qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating information collections, facilities, services, programs, and staff.
- Assess how to determine which methods are most appropriate for addressing different evaluation questions.
- Determine basic elements for design and critical examination leading to the process to conduct an evaluation project.
- Determine how to critically analyze peer-reviewed empirical literature in the graduate and professional field of library and information science.
- Assess, as defined through professional standards, the role and value of evaluation in managing library and information organizations and programs.
- Analyze qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating information collections, facilities, services, programs, and staff.
- Assess how to determine which methods are most appropriate for addressing different evaluation questions.
Course Overview
Instruction is in Canvas. Lessons are organized into Modules whose length may vary.
Module 1: Introduction to the Course
- Interpret course assignment expectations by describing impressions of one course assignment.
- Reflect on current evaluation practices and knowledge as applied to the ACRL Proficiencies for Assessment in Academic Libraries.
- Relate personal and professional experiences to those of classmates through responses to peers.
Module 2: Introduction to Evaluation
- Describe the purpose and value of evaluation through a discussion of a specific evaluation topic and context.
- Use professional standards and guidelines to inform the development of an evaluation focus by discussing a set of chosen standards or guidelines in relationship to the chosen evaluation topic or questions.
- Distinguish between evaluation and research by writing evaluation questions.
- Distinguish between process and outcome evaluation by writing process and outcome evaluation questions.
Module 3: Evaluation Stakeholders and Participation
- Analyze stakeholder roles and interests in an evaluation project using a stakeholder analysis template.
- Consider how social justice can ground an evaluation in libraries by analyzing different stakeholder groups.
- Consider how the human experience relates to professional standards, guidelines, and policies by connecting stakeholder needs or experiences to ALA standards and guidelines.
Module 4: Evaluating Information Sources
- Locate empirical, peer-reviewed scholarly library and social science research articles to support the design of an evaluation project.
- Critically describe and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of library and social science research literature.
- Analyze library and social science research literature for its rigor, adaptability, and transferability to practice in library and information organizations.
- Apply and adapt ideas and methods from scholarly literature to the design of an evaluation project.
Module 5: Evaluation Methods
- Articulate the strengths and weaknesses of different evaluation methods.
- Match evaluation questions to appropriate measures, instruments, and data analysis procedures.
- Determine how to measure evaluation questions through qualitative and quantitative methods.
Module 6: Evaluation Design
- Align process and outcome evaluation questions with appropriate methods for collecting data from relevant groups and analyzing the data.
- Develop instruments that collect meaningful data from different stakeholder groups.
Module 7: Evaluation Proposal
- Craft a formal proposal for an evaluation of a library or information organization program, service, or initiative.
- Effectively present a proposal to stakeholders with the goal of garnering their support for the project.
Module 8: Reflection
- Reflect on your current evaluation practices and knowledge as applied to the ACRL Proficiencies for Assessment Librarians and Coordinators.
- Reflect on personal learning in this course by discussing areas of growth as applied to the ACRL Proficiencies for Assessment Librarians and Coordinators.
- Brainstorm the next steps for integrating evaluation into your professional practice.
Policies and Procedures
Please be aware of the following linked policies and procedures. Note that in individual courses instructors will have stipulations specific to their course.