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Retention Project 2009 – 2011: Joint Academic Upgrading/Test Centre Assessment Pilot

Retention Project 2009 – 2011: Joint Academic Upgrading/Test Centre Assessment Pilot. Lynne Eagan, Academic Upgrading Cindy Thuswaldner , Academic Upgrading Jeff Agate, Test Centre. Purpose of Pilot. Update promotional criteria and assessment methods for AU - Communication courses.

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Retention Project 2009 – 2011: Joint Academic Upgrading/Test Centre Assessment Pilot

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  1. Retention Project 2009 – 2011:Joint Academic Upgrading/Test Centre Assessment Pilot Lynne Eagan, Academic Upgrading Cindy Thuswaldner, Academic Upgrading Jeff Agate, Test Centre

  2. Purpose of Pilot Update promotional criteria and assessment methods for AU - Communication courses. • Review language skills and proficiency levels for course promotion. • Adopt new assessment tools • Use of current assessment technologies • Align assessment tools with post-secondary admission practice

  3. The Academic Upgrading Program • Poor English and Math skills are known barriers to post-secondary success. • The AU – Comm courses develop English skills necessary for success in all post-secondary programs. • The tools used to assess English skills in AU – Comm now line up with assessment tools (i.e., Accuplacer) currently used for admission to Algonquin.

  4. Implementation Process Step 1: Gain consensus among faculty on the Performance Level Descriptors necessary for promotion between the 5 courses of AU Comm. • Reading • Writing

  5. Implementation Process Step 2: Identify suitable Accuplacer tests. • 8 language skills tests available A hybrid of Accuplacer tests and professor-scored writing samples were adopted for promotion criteria.

  6. Implementation Process Step 3: Identification of corresponding test scores for the Performance Level Descriptors necessary for promotion between each course. • Collaborative process • Accuplacer service

  7. Implementation Process Step 4: Scheduling and implementation • Custom AU CommAccuplacer site. • Automatic scoring with placement recommendations . • Results delivered to professors by next class.

  8. Observations • Increased student retention – no longer a barrier. • Promotion assessment more relevant because it mirrors the college admission process • Un-timed - reduces examinee stress • Fewer students getting “stuck” • Re-test period shortened from 90 to 30 days • Current and culturally unbiased assessment • Reflects Algonquin’s commitment to use of current technology • Data is readily available for analysis

  9. Evaluation • 173 AU – Comm students have completed assessment • Increase in number of students promoted from course to course • Speeding up of the promotional process – student success is accelerated

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