Students gain information literacy skills from a range of sources, not all of which involve direct librarian intervention. These skills grow and diversify over the course of their studies in ways that pre/post test research protocols cannot capture. So how can we understand how they learn what they know? This presentation describes a long-term project using the Information Skills résumé as a case study of gathering, analyzing and using qualitative data to better understand student learning and thereby improve information literacy instruction. The Information Skills résumé tool, used to gather information from journalism students over five years, showed development of information skills and knowledge in response to formal classes, self-directed learning, internship experiences and changes in the information environment. This descriptive approach to assessment clearly demonstrated the benefits of an integrated information literacy program and provided rich experiences for both the students and the researcher, which in turn fed directly into continuous improvement of instruction. The tool is free, easy to implement, and rewarding for both researcher and students.
