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Off the RAILS! The Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (RAILS) Project at UW Bothell: Home

What is the "RAILS" project?

The Rubric Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (RAILS) project (web address: http://railsontrack.info/) is designed to investigate how rubrics can be used by librarians and faculty to assess information literacy skills. RAILS is directed by Megan Oakleaf, Syracuse University, and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The UWB/CCC Library was one of only five institutions nationwide selected to participate in the RAILS project during the 2010-2011 academic year. Jackie Belanger, Reference & Instruction Librarian, was selected from librarians attending the ACRL Assessment Immersion Program and represented the UWB/CCC Library. Jackie participated in extensive rubric training and then (along with the Library's Head of Instruction, Leslie Bussert) organized librarians and academic faculty to assess student work samples.

What did we do?

  • Developed an analytic rubric based on holistic AAC&U VALUE IL rubric.
  • Collected 100 samples of student work from upper and lower division programs. 
  • Assembled a team of 11 faculty and librarians to assess student work.
  • Participated in a day-long process of rubric development and scoring of student work.

This guide was developed by:

Jackie Belanger, Nia Lam, Dani Rowland, Beth Sanderson (UW Bothell & Cascadia Community College Library) and Amanda Hornby (University of Washington Odegaard Undergraduate Library)

UW Bothell RAILS project team: Jackie Belanger, Rebecca Bliquez, Leslie Bussert, David Goldstein, Amanda Hornby, Nia Lam, Suzan Parker, Karen Rosenberg, Dani Rowland, Beth Sanderson, and Linda Watts.