SLO Assessment Departmental Tools and Examples from the Field Sacramento City College Fall Flex Workshop 8/21/08 8/21/08Presenters: Alan Keys Faculty Research Coordinator, Professor of Psych. & Department faculty from History, PE, …??

WLOs (Workshop Learning Outcomes) After this workshop you should be able to.. Describe what an SLO is and the benefits of engaging in SLO assessment efforts Describe what an SLO is and the benefits of engaging in SLO assessment efforts Discriminate Direct and Indirect measures of SLOs Discriminate Direct and Indirect measures of SLOs Align course/unit SLOs with existing & new assessment methods Align course/unit SLOs with existing & new assessment methods Develop a departmental SLO assessment plan Develop a departmental SLO assessment plan

What are Student Learning Outcomes? Student learning outcomes can be categorized in terms of… What students should know or be able to do …when they have completed a course, program, student service intervention, certificate, or degree.

Types of assessment Input - Preparedness issues Input - Preparedness issues Basic Skills; Course placement; Pre-req Skills Dynamic Classroom Assessment - Formative teaching tools Dynamic Classroom Assessment - Formative teaching tools "On-the-fly" feedback techniques to adjust and modify course/program as it progresses. Institutional Effectiveness - Mainly summative Institutional Effectiveness - Mainly summative Measures of student success & institutional mission. Student Learning Outcome Assessment - Summative & formative Student Learning Outcome Assessment - Summative & formative Systematic assessment of measurable learning outcomes

Benefits of SLO Assessment InsightsImprovement Course and Program Modifications - Curriculum, program design, delivery methods, offerings, scheduling, etc… Increased Student Success

Direct & Indirect Measures of Learning Indirect Student surveys Student surveys Interviews Interviews Student journal Student journal Employer surveys Employer surveys Focus Groups Focus Groups Retention rates Retention rates Persistence rates Persistence rates Transfer rates Transfer rates Degree & Certificate rates Degree & Certificate rates Job placement Job placement Teaching portfolios Teaching portfoliosDirect Locally developed exams Locally developed exams Quizzes Quizzes Essays Essays Written projects Written projects Oral presentations Oral presentations Performances Performances Exhibitions Exhibitions Lab reports Lab reports Group projects Group projects Direct observation Direct observation Standardized tests Standardized tests Licensure Exams Licensure Exams Capstone Projects Capstone Projects

Implementing SLO assessment How do we select the appropriate assessment tool(s) for our particular course SLOs? 1. Align existing assessments with course SLOs 2. Select/create assessment tools that specifically assess course SLOs

Assessing for a grade versus assessing outcomes (Modified from CRC, Buechner, ) Assessment for Outcome 1 Assessment for Outcome 2 Assessment for Outcome 3 Grade Student 1 A Student 2 C Student 3 B Student 4 F Outcome assessment Poor Moderat e Good Change methods Change methods ?? Hurray! Keep methods Align course-embedded Assessments with Course SLOs

Departmental SLO Assessment Plan Three parts of Department SLO Plan 1. Department SLO Assessment Plan Overview State assessment focus (course or program) State assessment focus (course or program) Indicate who will lead assessment and when Indicate who will lead assessment and when 2. Course SLO Assessments Identify priority SLOs to assess, associated assignments, and assessment methods Identify priority SLOs to assess, associated assignments, and assessment methods 3. SLO Outcome review Summarize results Summarize results Discuss implications, possible changes, follow-up Discuss implications, possible changes, follow-up

Steps in SLO Assessment Development Utilize the Steps handout and SLO planning templates to… Utilize the Steps handout and SLO planning templates to… Select course(s) for future assessments Select course(s) for future assessments Prioritize SLOs Prioritize SLOs Align SLOs, assignments/activities, & assessments Align SLOs, assignments/activities, & assessments Discuss possible assessment methods & instruments Discuss possible assessment methods & instruments Conduct assessments Conduct assessments

Departmental SLO Assessment Plan Department:Academic Year: Program or sub-discipline (if applicable): Assessment Focus Course_____ Program ______ Course Level Course(s) that will be assessedTermFaculty Responsible for Assessment Program Level Program(s) (Degrees and/or Certificates) TermFaculty Responsible for Assessment

Course Assessments Department: Program or sub-discipline (if applicable): Course:Section(s): Assessment Plan Priority SLO(s) to Assess (from Socrates) Assignment / Activity to Assess (Quiz, Exam, Report, Project, Paper) Assessment Method or Instrument to apply to assessment (Rubric, embedded measure, add-on)Term

SLO Outcome Review Summary of Assessment Results for Course: _______________________ SLO 1. SLO 2. SLO 3 Departmental Review of Results and Plans for Follow-up (Discussion, Implications, Student impact, Curricular changes, Future Assessments, Assessment Method Modifications) SLO 1. SLO 2.

Closing the Loop: Putting SLO Ideas into Action! Class and course level Class and course level Develop assessments aligned with specific SLOs Develop assessments aligned with specific SLOs Use direct & indirect assessments Use direct & indirect assessments Use course-embedded &/or add-on methods Use course-embedded &/or add-on methods Engage in intra- and interdepartmental collaboration Engage in intra- and interdepartmental collaboration Modify curriculum, teaching techniques & document via Socrates Modify curriculum, teaching techniques & document via Socrates Program level Program level Utilize SLO review in program planning and design Utilize SLO review in program planning and design Incorporate into unit plans, educational master plan, program review, division plans Incorporate into unit plans, educational master plan, program review, division plans

Closing the Loop: Putting SLO Ideas into Action! Overall good practices for SLO Assessment Sample, sample, sample Sample, sample, sample Utilize multiple measures Utilize multiple measures Dialogue, collaborate, & document Dialogue, collaborate, & document Stay focused on Student Learning! Stay focused on Student Learning! For more information on SCC SLO efforts and resources for all levels of SLO development and assessment, visit