Assessment 101:

1
Assessment 101 A Review of the Basics
Office of Assessment Christopher Newport
University
2
What is assessment?

• Assessment is the process of determining the
  degree to which students are learning what
  faculty believe is essential for them to know so
  that faculty can make improvements in the
  teaching-learning process.

3
Process for improving student learning
4
GENUINE INQUIRY
5
Identify what students are NOT learning
6
Steps in the Assessment Process
1. Establish clear, measurable outcomes of
student learning from a given activity (student
learning outcomes ? SLOs)
7. Implement the changes designed to enhance
learning (close the loop)
2. Ensure opportunities for learning ? Curriculum
Mapping
6. Interpret the information and make decisions
about what to do to improve the results in the
future
Student Learning
3. Establish method(s) for evaluating the degree
to which students have achieved the SLOs
5. Gather information about the degree to which
students have achieved the SLOs
4. Teach to the SLOs
7
The first step

• Faculty members need to clarify and make explicit
  what they believe is essential for students to
  learn.

8
Student Learning Outcomes
9
A Student Learning Outcome is a written statement
of the measurable achievement a participant will
be able to demonstrate as a result of
participation in a given learning activity.
10
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Three Levels

• Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
• Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
• Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

11
The Purpose of SLOs

• To clarify for ourselves precisely what knowledge
  and skills we believe are essential or important
  for students to learn
• To focus our teaching efforts
• To shape the graded assignments we design
• To inform the criteria we use to grade students
  activities
• To enable us to assess how successful our
  students have been at mastering the desired
  learning
• To communicate to students what we intend for
  them to learn so they can organize their efforts
  to achieving the desired outcomes

12
How to Write SLOs
13
Use This Precise Formulation

• Students who successfully complete name the
  learning unit (e.g., Psych 101, the computer
  science major) will be able to do the following
• ONE observable, active verb
• ONE observable, active verb
• ONE observable, active verb
• Etc.

14
Examples

• Students who successfully complete French 200
  will be able to conjugate regular verbs in the
  imperfect tense in writing.
• Students who successfully complete the BA in
  Music will be able to demonstrate technical
  proficiency in their chosen instrument during a
  live public performance.
• Students who successfully complete English 123
  will be able to write effectively.
• Upon the successful completion of the Creative
  Expressions Area of Inquiry, students will be
  able to apply concepts from the humanities to
  describe artistic endeavors or participate in a
  fine art, such as creating a painting or
  choreographing a dance.

15
Avoidnon-observable verbs
Rule 1
16
Non-observable Verbs

• know
• learn
• understand
• comprehend
• appreciate
• study

• become familiar with
• be knowledgeable about
• think
• value
• realize
• become aware of

17
Translate Non-observable SLOs Into Observable Ones
Not Observable
Observable

• Know the arguments

• Summarize the arguments

• Discuss reflections on the issues

• Reflect on the issues

• Think critically

• Identify assumptions implicit in theories

• Apply the principles

• Understand the principles

• Comprehend the methods

• Explain the methods

• Appreciate art

• Voluntarily choose to attend one or more art
  exhibits during the semester

18
Rule 2

• Include only ONE
• verb in SLOs

You may use or but avoid and
19
Good

• Bad

Students who successfully earn a degree in
communication studies will be able to write and
speak effectively.

• Students who successfully earn a degree in
  communication studies will be able to write
  effectively.
• Students who successfully earn a degree in
  communication studies will be able to speak
  effectively

Good
Students who successfully earn a degree in
communication studies will be able to write or
speak effectively
20
More Examples of Good SLOs

• Students who successfully complete Math 300 will
  be able to use quantitative reasoning to solve
  problems.
• Students who successfully complete this course
  will be able to analyze the strengths and
  weaknesses of literary texts as demonstrated by a
  review they write on a novel from the
  Renaissance, Victorian, and contemporary periods.
  
• Graduates of CNUs computer engineering BS
  program will be able to design hardware
  components that meet a variety of client needs.
• Students who earn a degree in music will be able
  to compose complex scores or play an instrument
  skillfully.

21
How many SLOs?

• About three to six CLOs for a three-unit course
• About three to five PLOs for a minor
• About five to nine PLOs for a major

22
Second step in the assessment process

• Faculty members need to ensure students have
  opportunities to master the student learning
  outcomes.

23
Curriculum Mapping
24
Curriculum Mapping
A method for aligning CLOs with PLOs
PLO-1 PLO-2 PLO-3 PLO-4 PLO-5 PLO-6 PLO-7 PLO-8 PLO-9
Music 101 x x x x
Music 202 x x x x x
Music 303 x x x x x
Music 404 x x x x x
25
Benefits

• Reveals gaps and redundancies in curriculum
• Improves program coherence
• Stimulates communication among faculty
• Enhances coordination among faculty
• Increases the likelihood that students achieve
  program-level outcomes
• Encourages reflective practice

26
Curriculum Matrix
PLO-1 PLO-2 PLO-3
Apply the scientific method Develop laboratory techniques Diagram and explain major cellular processes
Bio 101 I
Bio 202 D I/D
Bio 303 M I
Bio 404 M D/M
I Introduce D Develop M Master
27
Assessment Matrix
PLO-1 PLO-2 PLO-3
Apply the scientific method Develop laboratory techniques Diagram and explain major cellular processes
Bio 101 FA
Bio 202 FA
Bio 303 SA FA
Bio 404 SA SA
FA Formative Assessment SA Summative
Assessment