Assess your students cultural literacy:

 Awareness of culture
Poor
Student doesn't understand specific value systems that contribute to the way that he / she and others behave, OR he / she possesses negative, stereotyped beliefs about different cultural groups.  
Fair
Student is aware that culture impacts his / her own behavior and the behavior of others; however, understanding of specific beliefs and value systems is largely superficial or incomplete. 
Good
Student possesses some knowledge of specific beliefs, values, and sensibilities that contribute to the way that he / she and others behave. 
Advanced
Student is highly knowledgeable about specific cultural beliefs, values, and sensibilities that might affect the way that he / she and others think or behave. 

Awareness of history and its impact
Poor
Student is largely unknowledgeable about the history of his own and others’ cultures, and he/she shows no interest in learning more. 
Fair
Student possesses basic knowledge about history, mostly focused on mainstream American cultures. He / she is largely unaware of how history has shaped relationships among diverse groups. 
Good
Student knows some history of mainstream and non-mainstream American cultures, and of other nations; he / she understands that these histories impact relationships today, but this understanding is unsophisticated.  
Advanced
Student has substantial knowledge of history of both mainstream and non-mainstream American cultures, and the history of other nations.  He / she has a sophisticated  understanding of how these histories have impacted relationships among groups.  

Perspective taking - history
Poor
Student does not realize that knowledge of history is socially and politically constructed; when learning about history, does not independently assume the perspective of non-mainstream groups. 
Fair
Student requires substantial assistance to recognize that knowledge of history is socially constructed, and to assume the perspective of non-mainstream groups when learning history.
Good
Student realizes that history is socially constructed.  With minimal guidance, he / she is able to take the perspective of non-mainstream groups when learning about historical events. 
Advanced
Student realizes that history is socially and politically constructed, and has sufficient knowledge to spontaneously take the perspective of non-mainstream groups when learning history. 

Stereotyping and bias
Poor
Student does not understand that stereotyping and other biases are not acceptable, and tends to engage in these behaviors.  Student internalizes implicit, biased messages about other cultural groups (e.g., in media). 
Fair
At a general level, student understands that stereotyping and other biases are not acceptable; however, he/she is not sensitive to the impact of prejudice or to biased messages about other cultural groups (e.g., in media). 
Good
Student understands the dangers of stereotyping and other biases; he/she is aware of and sensitive to issues of racism and prejudice, and sometimes recognizes biased messages about other cultural groups (e.g., in media). 
Advanced
Student understands the dangers of stereotyping and other biases, is sensitive to issues of racism and prejudice, and highly cognizant of biased messages about other cultural groups (e.g., within media). 

Tolerance
Poor
Student fails to recognize similarities between his/her own culture and other cultures; he/she judges differences in behavior or lifestyle negatively, and does not associate with individuals from different cultural groups.
Fair
With a few exceptions, student fails to recognize similarities between his/her own culture and other cultures.  Although not negative about differences in behavior or lifestyle, student only occasionally associates with individuals from different cultures.
Good
With guidance, student is cognizant of similarities between his/her own culture and other cultures.    He/she appreciates and accepts individuals with diverse beliefs, appearances, and lifestyles.
Advanced
Student understands that individuals from diverse cultures share some fundamental beliefs; he/she appreciates and accepts diversity, and seeks opportunities to learn about and interact with different cultures.

Language proficiency
Poor
Student is not interested in learning other languages.  Efforts made towards these skills are superficial and motivated almost entirely by course requirements. 
Fair
Student is willing to learn another language, but does not appreciate the value of this skill.  Although student makes a genuine attempt to learn a new language, these efforts are motivated by course requirements. 
Good
Student understands the value of being multilingual, is at or working towards this proficiency, and is intrinsically motivated to acquire new languages. 
Advanced
Student understands the value of being multilingual, is at or working towards this proficiency, and is intrinsically motivated to learn not only a new language, but also about the culture from which the language is derived.

Interactions with individuals from different cultures
Poor
Student communicates, interacts, or works poorly with individuals from other cultural groups.
Fair
Under supervision, student can generally communicate, interact, and work positively with individuals from other cultural groups.
Good
Student usually communicates, interacts, and works positively with individuals from other cultural groups.
Advanced
Student almost always communicates, interacts, and works positively with individuals from other cultural groups; he/she seeks opportunities to learn from diverse perspectives.

Use of resources from different cultures
Poor
Student avoids using technology to gain access to individuals or resources from other cultures.
Fair
With substantial guidance, student is willing to use technology to gain access to individuals or resources from other cultures; however, these efforts are generally motivated by course requirements.
Good
Student sometimes uses technology to gain access to individuals or resources from other cultures; these efforts are sometimes self-initiated and intrinsically motivated.
Advanced
Student regularly uses technology to gain access to individuals or resources from other cultures; these efforts are generally motivated by interest and exceed course requirements.

Awareness of the way that technology influences worldviews
Poor
Student does not understand that technology impacts his/her own and others’ worldviews.
Fair
Student understands that technology allows access to other cultures, but does not understand the impact of this access on worldviews or societies.
Good
Student has some understanding of the way technology impacts his/her own and others’ worldviews.
Advanced
Student has an insightful understanding of the way technology impacts his/her own and others’ worldviews (e.g., by allowing individuals to access pop culture, news, ideas, from other societies).

Culture of technological environments
Poor
Student has no knowledge about the culture of technological environments (e.g., online chats, instant messaging, MOOs, MUDs), and, does not participate in these forums.
Fair
Student has some basic knowledge about the culture of technological environments (e.g., online chats, instant messaging, MOOs, MUDs), and participates minimally in these forums.
Good
Student is reasonably fluent in the culture of technological environments (e.g., online chats, instant messaging, MOOs, MUDs), and can participate frequently in these forums.
Advanced
Student has substantial and sophisticated knowledge about the culture of technological environments (e.g., online chats, instant messaging, MOOs, MUDs), and can participate fully in these forums.

 

A cultural literacy assessment tool:

http://www.readfaster.com/culturalliteracy/