Developing an Effective Plan for Assessing Student Learning

1. Developing an Effective Plan for Assessing Student Learning A Quick Infomercial

2. Background Information • Development of College’s Action Plan on Planning and Assessment, vetting through College Senate, and approval by President’s Cabinet in Spring 2009 • Called for development by APAC of “guidelines and prototypes for academic programs to follow in developing assessment plans” • Development of guidelines, approval by President’s Cabinet, and distribution to programs in December 2009

3. Some Important Points • Focus of guidelines is assessment of student learning, or student learning outcomes, in all undergraduate major and graduate programs • Programs will clearly have other goals and objectives (e.g., curriculum development, faculty achievements) • Assessment planning process intentionally tailored to fit easily into: • Program review (i.e., self-study) • Annual reporting process • Not necessary to assess all student learning outcomes every year • In fact, better to stagger these assessments, assuring some take place each year

4. Four Necessary Steps • Establishing Objectives • Curriculum Mapping • Assessment of Program Effectiveness Specific to Stated Outcomes • Closing the Loop

5. Developing a Plan: The Process • Process to begin this semester • 5/3/10 – Step 1 completed • 12/1/10 – Step 11 completed • Plans reviewed by APAC, with deans responsible for approving plans or requiring revisions • Programs can also submit existing plans to their dean for approval, with deans responsible for approval

6. A Few Words About Step I • Goal is for program faculty to reach consensus about desired student learning outcomes • Recommended actions: • Review existing outcomes • Elicit and discuss faculty perceptions of these (both actual & aspirational) • Compare with: • Institutional statements of student learning • Statements from programs at comparable institutions • Criteria from certification/accreditation agencies or national associations as appropriate

7. Sample Program Objectives – Sociology Department • Student understands and can explain major theories of social behavior. • Student understands the nature and purposes of social research and understands different methodological techniques. • Student can apply theories and research methods to real-world situations. • Student can describe these issues effectively in oral and written form.

8. Sample Program Objectives – Philosophy Department Students will: • Achieve an introductory understanding of the major figures and movements in both ancient and modern philosophy; • Achieve an introductory understanding of symbolic logic; • Attain knowledge, beyond the introductory level, of the literature in each of the four major areas of philosophy (History of Philosophy, Logic, Metaphysics and Epistemology, and Value Theory); • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate philosophical positions critically and systematically; • Demonstrate the ability to formulate and defend philosophical positions; • Master the ability to write well-reasoned, well-integrated essays about materials recently studied; • Master the ability to conduct and present philosophical research in written form; and • Master the ability to orally defend positions taken in written work.