The NIFL LINCS Assessment Special Collection

Dianna Baycich and Tim Ponder
Ohio Literacy Resource Center

LINCS is the Literacy Information and Communication System, a project of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL). LINCS combines a variety of resources including online discussions, technology training, and an extensive database of literacy materials. One of the key components of LINCS are the Special Collections. The LINCS Special Collections are peer-reviewed, content-oriented collections of high-quality literacy practices and materials for use in adult education and literacy programs. There are currently 11 topics covered in the Collections including English as a Second Language, Equipped for the Future, Literacy and Learning Disabilities, and Policy and Legislation. The homepage for the LINCS Special Collections can be found at http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/collections/collections.html.

The Assessment Special Collection (http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment) launched in June of 2001 and funded in part by the Office of Adult and Vocational Education, provides individuals dealing with assessment and evaluation in adult literacy programs a means to access a variety of resources electronically. This Collection focuses on assessment and evaluation topics for both program and instruction. Professional development topics and current event information dealing with assessment are also included.

Sites for the Assessment Special Collection are found through recommendations by practitioners, postings on discussion lists, articles in various professional journals and newsletters, and web searches. Once sites are identified they are sent to a Core Knowledge Group (CKG) who decide if they are suitable for the Special Collection. The members of the CKG are considered experts in the field of assessment in adult education and currently represent the following agencies: Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy, Penn State University; Ohio Literacy Resource Center; Stark County Even Start, Ohio; SABES/World Education, MA; Arkansas Adult Learning Resource Center; National Center for Family Literacy; Partnership for Family Education and Support, Louisville, KY; and LIFT, Missouri Literacy Resource Center. Members of the CKG work in pairs to evaluate the sites based on the quality and usefulness of the information and the organization of the site. If the two reviewers do not agree, the site is sent to a third member of the CKG for review. New sites are added to the Special Collection several times a year. CKG members communicate by e-mail and periodic conference calls. The CKG also plans meetings at national conferences when several of them will be attending.

In the Assessment Special Collection you will find high quality resources
with information about various aspects of assessment and evaluation. Currently the target audiences are Teachers/Tutors and Managers/Administrators. We are planning to add information for students in the near future. A new focus of the collection addresses resources for state staff. Working with the National Adult Education Professional Development Consortium and a small group of state staff from across the country, quality assessment information, models, and best practices relevant to state staff are being identified and reviewed for inclusion in this section to be launched in early 2003.

Since the Assessment Special Collection is relatively new, we are always happy to receive site recommendations. If you have sites you would like to recommend or have comments or suggestions about the site you can
contact Dianna Baycich at dbaycich@literacy.kent.edu or Tim Ponder at tponder@zhost.net

Dianna Baycich has been working at the Ohio Literacy Resource Center for three years, and in Adult Education since 1991. She has a Master's degree in Adult Learning and Development and is currently working on her Ph.D. Dianna lives with 6 cats.

Tim Ponder is Assistant Director in charge of NIFL projects at the Ohio Literacy Resource Center. His current responsibilities include overseeing the Midwest Regional Technology Center and both the Family Literacy and Assessment Special Collection projects. Tim has worked with various state and national adult literacy organizations providing technical support and training in the area of technology.

Originally published in Adventures in Assessment, Volume 15 (Spring 2003),
SABES/World Education, Boston, MA, Copyright 2003.

Funding support for the publication of this document on the Web provided in part by the Ohio State Literacy Resource Center as part of the LINCS Assessment Special Collection.