Book Review
Robin Sabo

Blueprint for Learning: Constructing College Courses to Facilitate, Assess and Document Learning by Dr. Laurie Richlin

Dr. Laurie Richlin is Director of the Preparing Future Faculty Program at Claremont Graduate University in California and Director of the Lilly West Conference on College and University Teaching.

The book’s subtitle – Constructing College Courses to Facilitate, Assess and Document Learning accurately reflects its content. Information presented includes teaching and learning styles, creating learning objectives and developing assessments and rubrics. Dr. Richlin states that learning objectives are the “centerpiece for course design”.  Learning objectives should be concise and teachable and serve as the basis for testing and assessment rubrics.

A discussion of teaching information literacy across the curriculum and a framework for integrating information literacy into a course is well done.  In addition, a section of the book covers assessment of learning including grading and Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs).   The reader can self-assess his/her learning styles (Grasha-Reichman Student Learning Style Scales) and teaching styles (Grasha Teaching Styles Inventory) to aid in gaining knowledge of how those preferences impact teaching.

In summary, the book provides an excellent overview of issues needing consideration in course design. For me, the four most helpful parts of the book are the self-assessment tools, practical examples, the tables and figures which aid in explaining complex material and the many references.

As a new faculty member, my only criticism (if it can be called that) is the breadth of the material covered. I found myself wanting more in-depth discussion of particular topics.

Reviewed by Robin Sabo, Assistant Professor, Reference Librarian/Health Sciences Bibliographer, Park Library

Title: Blueprint for Learning: Constructing College Courses to Facilitate, Assess and Document Learning
Author: Laurie Richlin
Copyright: 2006
Publisher: Stylus
Pages; Soft cover, 161 pages
ISBN: 1-57922-143-2
List Price: $24.95