Dr. Cara Gormally, a teaching faculty member in the School of Biology, along with research collaborators Peggy Brickman and Mary Lutz at the University of Georgia, have developed the Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS)--a freely available, psychometrically sound, multiple-choice instrument to measure college students’ scientific literacy skill development. The research and development of the TOSLS is described in the journal CBE Life Sciences Education (http://www.lifescied.org/content/11/4/364.full) and has recently been highlighted as an Editor’s Choice article in the journal Science (see below).

From Science January 18, 2013:

Editors Choice – EDUCATION
Assessing Literacy
Melissa McCartney

Scientific literacy, a skill needed beyond the classroom, is being integrated into general education curriculums, resulting in a need to assess students as they develop scientific literacy skills. Gormally et al. describe the development of the Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS) as a freely available, time-efficient, and psychometrically sound test for use in undergraduate introductory science courses. Using definitions of scientific literacy in education policy documents and survey results from general education faculty, the team identified two major skill categories as measurable outcomes, or TOSLS skills: recognizing and analyzing the use of methods of inquiry, and organizing, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative data. An extensive pilot study that included testing students in a general biology course, individual student interviews, and several rounds of expert faculty evaluation suggested that the TOSLS is able to identify students' scientific literacy skill proficiency. Additionally, the TOSLS was sensitive enough to detect pre- to post-semester learning gains, suggesting that it will be valuable in future assessment efforts. The full list of editor’s choice articles can be found at (http://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6117/twil.full#compilation-1-4-art...).