Hands-on Workshop 8/31/11 How to Develop New Outcomes to Assess

Consider your program as a whole Does it culminate with a degree that qualifies students for a particular kind of work? Is it a transfer curriculum without an “endpoint?”

If a transfer curriculum: What are the important skills/knowledge/beliefs students who plan to major in the discipline need to have learned before they transfer? Make a list What are the important foundational skills/knowledge/beliefs students not majoring in the discipline need to acquire for their broader education? Make a list In both cases, some of these MAY be found in the course level student learning outcomes in your syllabus (if none are present, it would be advisable to review course level outcomes for possible revision) If course level outcomes reflect the program level outcomes you’ve listed, some of these outcomes can be used as a way of assessing program level student learning

If a “workforce” type program: What are the essentials skills/knowledge/beliefs students need to have learned by the end of the program? Make a list Where in the curriculum do they learn these things? Assessments can be done at specific points in the curriculum Course level assessments of program level learning Assessments can be done at the end of the program Licensure exams Certification exams Portfolio assessment It is advisable to do some of each – mixing formative and summative assessments

Select outcomes to assess and: In each case, consider how you might assess the particular learning and what standard (criterion) for success you would set. Many types of assessment are valid (long list in TracDat) – try not to develop all your assessments using the same method Criterion may initially be based on: Intuitive sense Data you have previously gathered A “standard” faculty believes is appropriate

Enter new outcomes and means of assessment in TracDat. Remember to: Relate the assessment to appropriate courses Relate the assessment to one or more strategic plan goals Relate the assessment to strategic plan objectives and/or initiatives developed for your Division if possible Relate the assessment to General Education objectives if appropriate