10:30 – 11:30: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy*: Integration and Assessment in Higher Education
Dr. Alexius Macklin, Associate Professor of Library Science and User Instruction Librarian, Purdue University
Several leading institutions, including Purdue University, collaborated with the Educational Testing Service to develop the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Literacy Assessment. This interactive computer-based assessment uses simulated real-world scenarios to measure the combination of baseline computer technical skills and the more advanced cognitive skills of information literacy. This presentation will discuss the origins, development and potential uses of the ICT Literacy Assessment, illustrate its scenario-based content, and present findings from an instructional design study that investigated the use of a problem-based learning (PBL) approach to integrate ICT literacy into the First Year Composition Program at Purdue University. The ICT Literacy Assessment served as a means of diagnosing students’ abilities, and guiding the planning of activities that required students to systematically find and use information to solve problems in academic and job-related settings.

*Now known as iSkills

Julia Blixrud:
Julia been with the Association of Research Libraries since December 1996 and provides staff support to several ARL programs with external activities: Research, Teaching, and Learning, Leadership Development, Statistics and Measurement, and Scholarly Communication. Julia represents the Association at national and international meetings and events, provides advice for ARL publications and communications, and conducts special projects. She is staff to the Association's Membership Committee and the Visiting Program Officer program. Julia has served as a faculty member for ARL's former Office of Leadership and Management Services, conducting workshops on facilitation, the culture of assessment, and leadership and management as well as providing consulting services for institutional planning and assessment.

In addition to her ARL duties, Julia is the Assistant Director for Public Programs for SPARC, the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition. Serving in that capacity since August 1999, she is implementing a grassroots educational and advocacy program directed to scientists and scholars, librarians, and society publishers. Julia's 30-year career in the library community has included positions at CAPCON and MINITEX library networks, the Council on Library Resources, and the Library of Congress. Her interests and professional activities have included cooperative programs, serials, technical standards, library assessment, intellectual property, and scholarly communication. She has a BA in library science and Scandinavian studies from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an MA in library science from the University of Minnesota.