Campus Library Assessment Team: International Student Project: Process

In order to focus our research, select appropriate methods, and avoid duplicating existing work on campus, we:

• Conducted a literature review, exploring a variety of possible assessment methods, as well as gathering and studying any relevant findings.

• Sought out internal data and questions from institutional partners and student organizations, including International Student Services, the Center for University Studies and Programs, and the Chinese Student Association at UWB, and International Programs, Global Education, and ESL and English Language Preparation programs at CCC.

• Observed library sessions and collected student work and assessment forms from BCUSP 100, an introductory learning strategies course offered at UWB for international students who have not yet studied in the US.

Guided by the priorities identified through our background research and classroom observations, we developed questions and solicited participants for:

• Focus groups: Two, one-hour sessions (with obligatory food incentives), centering around questions about their coursework, study habits, and research processes.

In order to build upon the information gathered in previous quarters, we devised prompts and offered campus bookstore gift cards for participants in:

• Photo diaries and interviews: Four students took photographs in response to several pre-determined questions, after which participants sat down with two team members for one-hour follow-up interviews.