Computer Literacy & Information Competency (CLIC) at Palomar College

Subcommittee of Curriculum Committee

What is Information Competency?

      WASC defines information competency as the “capability to access, evaluate, and use information in fulfillment of coursework and independent study.”

WASC Standard II. 3b – General education learning outcomes includes:

• A capability to be a productive and life-long learner: skills include oral and written communication, information competency, computer literacy, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis/logical thinking, and the ability to acquire knowledge through a variety of means.  (reference site)

• Student Learning Outcomes and Basic Skills Initiative – computer literacy is a basic skill and must be included in assessment, curriculum and outcomes, (reference SLO’s nationwide and at Palomar[j6] )

       Academic Senate:

Academic Senate's resolution on IC.

Statewide Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges Fall 2006 Resolution 9.03 (in Word): Reaffirm the Need for Information Competency, Shaaron Vogel, Butte College, Executive Committee

The Resolves are as follows:

·         Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges reaffirm its support for information competency for associates degrees;

·         Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges conduct a survey of the certificate and degree programs in California community colleges to determine which information competency requirements have been implemented by which colleges[j2] ; and

·         Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges work with local senates to encourage more colleges to require information competency for associate degrees and certificates.

·         MSC Disposition: Local Senates
Assigned: Curriculum Committee

The following document will summarize the committee’s work thus far and provide a framework for future work to be phased in by the Computer Literacy, Information Competency subcommittee by a proposed date of fall 2008.    [j1] 

Project Overview

A[j3] .  The Computer Literacy and Information Competency initiative (CLIC) at Palomar College proposes to standardize, integrate, implement, and test, CLlC competencies into the Palomar College curriculum at all degree and certificate levels, to varying degrees; and to articulate the CLIC requirement via course articulation and counseling recommendations to partners in Escondido, San Marcos and surrounding areas, to include K6, community colleges, and state colleges. A[j4]  second phase of the implementation will be to seek and maintain industry partners interested in creating internship opportunities for students.[1]  Upon successful completion of the CLIC exam, students will have attained a standardized skill set which will be highly desirable to employers. Finally, components of ongoing workshops will be offered to students which will assist them in developing job search documents and communications that include this critical CLIC skill set.

1.     Objectives

a.     The first objective is to determine which competencies should be included in the CLIC requirement and testing and when the students should be required to master the skills and pass the exam. 

b.     The second objective is to implement via an integrated, and/or required approach, the CLIC competencies into the curriculum. (Integrated Approach to meeting Information Competency Learning Outcomes, Palomar College, 2007)

c.     The third objective includes computerized testing[j5] .

d.     Finally, after achieving the CLIC objectives and mastering the skill set, students are prepared to compose and deliver job and internship materials that exhibit their CLIC skills for possible internships and job placement.

2.     Procedures

a.     Procedures to establish the competencies would be to look at key educational research and leadership in this area.  Statewide initiatives such as WASC mandates, Student Learning Outcomes and Basic Skills Initiatives and State Level Funding for Career and Technical Education pathways will be cited throughout this document.

b.     Partner with the Palomar College Counseling and Assessment center and various technology committees campus-wide to formulate and develop assessments.  Could include Blackboard testing, online tutorials, sample questions, sample tests, independent activities and resource sites, internal student workshops, PD workshops to train faculty on CLIC module integration, existing course integration of CLIC modules.  See sample websites at CSUSM , http://www.csusm.edu/iits/ccr/index.htm and the University of Hawaii http://www.hawaii.edu/wccil/index.shtml websites.

c.     Using Blackboard or an independently developed web testing tool, to assess student CLIC skills. 

                                          i.    Two  assessments for AA and transfer track students

1.      Information Competency testing

2.     Computer Literacy testing

                                         ii.    One assessment in Computer Literacy for Certificate of Proficiency and Certificate of Achievement students

d.     Counseling to Job Search and Internships classes and resources on campus. 

3.     Expected impacts and Student Learning Outcomes

a.     An articulated computer curriculum for students K-6 through college for areas surrounding Palomar College, and state-wide through CSU articulation

b.     Higher and more standardized skill levels in Computer Literacy and Information Competency, which are essential and critical skills in today’s schools and the workplace

c.     Less frustration on the part of students when using computers in classes at Palomar and other educational institutions

d.     Higher retention of students with little or no computer skills

e.     Reduction in internal competition and increase in productive collaboration between 3 areas on our campus that offer computer curriculum:  Business Education, CSIS, and RCSIS

f.      More success in finding internships and producing in an internship position

g.     More success in job search and on the job due to increased CLIC skills

h.     Foundational and higher level CLIC learning and testing allows students to perform at higher levels in all classes

i.      Critical thinking skills are improved

j.      Research skills are improved

k.     Faculty in classes that integrate technology are teaching less remedial computer literacy and information competency skills

Need

Rationale for Information Competency in the General Education Curriculum

Why implement an information competency general education curriculum at Palomar College?

·         To help students become life-long learners and meet College’s mission of learning for success

·         In today’s information driven environment, there is a demand for workers who are able to find, evaluate and use information appropriately

·         WASC Standard II. 3b – General education learning outcomes includes:

o    A capability to be a productive and life-long learner: skills include oral and written communication, information competency, computer literacy, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis/logical thinking, and the ability to acquire knowledge through a variety of means.  (reference site)

·         Student Learning Outcomes and Basic Skills Initiative – computer literacy is a basic skill and must be included in assessment, curriculum and outcomes, (reference SLO’s nationwide and at Palomar[j6] )

·         Articulations with K-12, CC’s and CSU’s, (state Ed Code regarding funding from Gov’s Office)

·         Focus on Career Technical Education, partnerships, articulations and internships, Chancellor’s Office Grant Site, Senate Bill (SB70).  (http://www.cccco.edu/divisions/esed/sb70/strengthen.htm)

Scope

The CLIC initiative is internal in its origin, and implementation, but reaches to middle and high schools, CC’s and CSU’s locally and statewide for course alignment and articulations. A second phase of the initiative will be to assure that students have practical applications of these skills in internships and eventually in their employment. 

Target Audience[j7] 

The target audience is all Palomar College students pursuing AA or transfer degrees, Certificates of Proficiency and/or Certificates of Achievement.

Workplan

Implementation

Pilot testing of CLIC skills will be implemented Spring 2009 by the Business Education, CSIS, RCSIS and Counseling departments and delivered via Blackboard to existing classes in each of these departments, by CLIC committee members.  Data will be collected and analyzed by the CLIC committee, tabulated and compared via Excel spreadsheets.

Student Level and Institution Level SLO's have been developed and will be presented to the Curriculum Committee meeting at its March 2009 meeting. 

Dissemination

Describes how we will distribute materials or products developed through this initiative to other community colleges, high schools, ROCPs, middle/ junior high schools, resource libraries, and other organizations.  Project staff is encouraged to disseminate their findings and work products through statewide and regional conferences. 

·         Creation of a website for tutorials, sample questions and exams, and scheduling information, linked from Palomar’s Home Page

·         Creation of a website that describes our initiatives, lists course offerings and exam dates and information – linked to all partners (schools and industry)

·         Class schedule will include same as above

·         Phone calls

·         E-mail distribution lists

·         Visits to schools and industry partners

·         Participation at state-wide conferences on WASC, Computer Literacy and Basic Skills Initiatives and in Grant Funding workshops.

Contacts

Project Partners, Roles for implementation in the project (Step 3, Application Consortium Data from SB 70 grant guidelines)

Sources Cited

Appendix A: WASC Information Competency Standard for General Education

Appendix B: California Community Colleges Information Competency Senate Resolution

Appendix C: List of Information competency graduation requirements at other California Community Colleges

Appendix D: Checklist of IC for College Students, a CCC/CSU collaborative project

Appendix E: University of Hawaii - http://www.hawaii.edu/wccil/index.shtml sample IC graduation requirement

(http://www.cccco.edu/divisions/esed/sb70/strengthen.htm)

Chancellor’s Office, SB 70 Grant, Strengthening Career Technical Education Programs, FY 2006-07.  Career Technical Education/Economic and Workforce Development Pathways.  http://www.cccco.edu/divisions/esed/sb70/strengthen.htm

[1]Newman, Scott .  “Advice From an Internship Veteran,” Oklahoma State University—Okmulgee Vol. XXIX, No. 14.  http://www.nisod.org/password/online_abstracts/2006-2007/XXIX_14.pdf , April 27, 2007

Additional sources since May 2007:

http://www.twu.edu/mtsc/computer_science_literacy_exam.htm

http://www.twu.edu/mtsc/CS_practice.htm

http://www.virtualbill.net/qamain.html

IC learning modules:  (there are many…)

http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/tutorial/

http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/tutorial/license/5ways/

 http://tilt.lib.utsystem.edu/

This website summarizes IC graduation requirements at CCCs - This website also cites the Academic Senate's resolution on IC.

http://www.topsy.org/infocomp.html

Topics to pursue as of April 2008.  Computer Literacy USA, Setting Global Standards for Computer Literacy Worldwide.

IC3 testing, through Certiport.  Both CL and IC are addressed comprehensively from an educational and industry perspective on the Virtual Bill site and its associated links.