Information Literacy Requirement Charter Oak State College Doris G. Cassiday Assistant Director of Academic Programs CT Council of Academic Library Directors April 8, 2011

General Education Requirement Information Literacy Expected Student Learning Outcome: Students will be able to locate, evaluate, synthesize and use information from a variety of sources and understand the ethical issues involved in accessing and using information.

Methods of Fulfilling the Requirement In the past… Could be satisfied by a course in which a research paper was required. ITE 100 Computer Literacy Charter Oak State College offers an assessment exam. A satisfactory score in the exam carries no credit but will result in a waiver of the requirement.

Currently All new students must take IDS 101 Cornerstone Seminar upon entering. AND Bachelor’s degree students must take a Capstone course in their concentration near completion of their degree.

IDS 101 Cornerstone Seminar In this course students undergo the preparation needed to undertake their degree program while learning principles and techniques of writing in the academic environment, critical thinking skills, and information literacy skills including online resources for accessing research tools. This course is required of all Charter Oak State College degree-seeking students.

IDS 101 - Student Learning Outcomes related to Information Literacy First - To demonstrate proficiency in certain principles and techniques of academic writing, including:

Developing an organized, effective essay that includes a thesis, introduction, and conclusion, and effective body paragraphs with clear topic sentences and supporting details;

Applying either APA or MLA style for research paper formats and citation mechanics; and

Explaining the importance of crediting source material and the methods of avoiding plagiarism by properly quoting, paraphrasing, and citing sources.

IDS 101 - Student Learning Outcomes related to Information Literacy, cont’d. Second - To employ critical thinking, research, and analysis methods in various academic writing projects such as essays, reflections, and discussion participation.

IDS 101 Cornerstone Course Requirement Students must complete IDS 101 with a grade of C or higher. Failure to achieve a grade of C puts the student automatically on academic hold. If the student has failed the course because of writing ability, the student will be required to complete ENG 100, Writing Refresher and then retake IDS 101.

The Capstone Course All bachelor’s degree students must pass a capstone course with a grade of C or higher. The capstone course is part of the student’s concentration. A concentration is similar to a major. It should be taken once the student is within 6 credits of completing the concentration.

Information Literacy in the Capstone HIS 499 is designed as the capstone course for Charter Oak students with a history concentration.   It offers rigorous practice in the study of history as a mode of discourse. Themes include specific historical content; thesis, evidence, interpretation and judgment; research methods and critical reasoning; precise historical writing with citations. Each student produces a capstone project that demonstrates those themes, satisfies the history concentration outcomes, and locates the project within the field of historical study.

HIS 499 Student Learning Outcomes Related to Information Literacy The student is expected to conduct research in primary and secondary materials appropriate for constructing a scholarly paper of substantial length and determine the evidentiary value of those sources including internet sources.  

Information Literacy Instruction in and development of Information Literacy is woven into the curriculum throughout the degree program.