1. Center for Academic Programs Assessment
Table 1: Research 101 Learning Modules and iSkills Mean Scores for Freshmen
Table 1: Research 101 Learning Modules and iSkills Mean Scores for Freshmen
Center for Academic Programs Assessment
Dr. Becky Verzinski, CAPA, Office of the Provost and Ms. Monica Luciano, Thurgood Marshall Library, Bowie State University
Null Hypothesis: The Research Skills Learning Module will have no significant effect on student performance on the iSkills assessment.
Bulldog Academy Research Skills Learning Module and iSkills Results:
INTRODUCTION
All students must complete the required courses within the general education program as part of their undergraduate degree. The core competencies of the GEP include:
written & oral communication
scientific & quantitative reasoning
critical thinking
information literacy
technological skills
The iSkills assessment measures critical thinking, information literacy and technological skills. The iSkills assessment tool was administered to incoming students during Fall 2012 and Fall 2013 semesters.
Bulldog Academy (BDA) freshman students were given the Research skills learning module as part of their summer academic schedule, and after completion of the learning modules, were tested using the ETS iSkills assessment for comparison with previous cohorts. The mean scores for the BDA 2014 cohort is consistent with previous freshman seminar cohorts who were also given the supplemental instruction in blackboard.
Table 1: Research Skills Learning Modules and iSkills Mean Scores for Freshman   
Freshmen Cohort
ALL
1st Year Students
Fall 2012
Fall 2013 FRSE Control Group
Fall 2013 FRSE
Research Skills
Fall 2013 Combined
Bulldog Academy
2014
Number Tested
416
100
119
113
232 84
Mean Score
179
181
169
185
177
182
RESEARCH METHODS
Instrument: iSkills Assessment (ETS on-line tool)
The skill areas assessed with the iSkills instrument are directly aligned with the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Standards and three of the GEP competencies
Fall 2012 iSkills results were below the national median
An intervention, Research Skills Learning Modules (RSLM), was developed for use in selected FRSE 101 courses in fall 2013
RSLM was conducted in five sections through Blackboard
Comparative data examined BSU student cohorts, both control and experimental groups, with the national iSkills assessment cohort
DISCUSSION and NEXT STEPS
The null hypothesis is rejected because the treatment, or RSLM, for those students who completed all seven lessons, positively impacted the overall mean for the completion cohort. With the initial positive results from the pilot study, a full implementation of RSLM is planned for inclusion in the 2015 Bulldog Academy for incoming freshmen. Some changes will be made to improve student learning such as smaller class sizes, more instructors, and integration of RSLM into English course assignments.