Snapshots of Reality is a practical book for instructional librarians. The chapters in this volume assume that classroom-based assessment does not have to take away from invaluable instruction time, nor does it have to be some overwhelmingly complicated task. Formative assessments are “bite-sized” assessments that help the librarian get a snapshot of the students' level of understanding in relation to the learning target(s). These mini-assessments are usually learning tools themselves and can be assessed quickly enough that the librarian can adjust his or her teaching on the spot to meet the immediate needs of their learners. This very practical book explores the adaptation of formative assessment theory into something that works for the library one-shot and more advanced instructor-librarian collaborations. It also includes 48 FAST (Formative Assessment Snapshot Technique) ideas and a guided planning template to help librarians seamlessly bring formative assessment into the library classroom.

This book is appropriate for all types of academic libraries, school libraries with strong information literacy programs, and library and information school collections.