Assessment for Optimal Learning Tace Crouse Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning University of Central Florida

Session Objectives Participants will:  understand how a system of assessment leads to continuous improvement  identify student performance assessments that are most appropriate for assessment of their program student learning outcomes  identify issues that impact assessment  identify resources for help with assessment

Why do we assess?  A. make decisions about student performance, classes, courses and programs  B. compliance with rules  C. conduct research  D. all of the above

You do not have time to waste Design and use one system that addresses : Classroom Needs  Formative and Summative Assessments of student performance  Assessing class effectiveness Course/Program Needs  Extract assessment of core student learning outcomes from student performance assessments already in place  ALC’s (Subset of Institutional Effectiveness)

The Plan

The Process Determine evidence needed Determine Learning OUTCOMES Match Outcomes with ASSESSMENTS Changes lead to new outcomes REFLECT on RESULTS CHANGE Procedures Resources Outcomes Assessments Implement Assessments & Collect Data What is next?

Student Learning Outcomes  Student performance  Know, do, value  Higher cognitive levels apply analyze evaluation synthesize

SLOs and Matching Assessments Assessment for Optimal Learning Handout Teaching/Learning Strategies Handout SLOs Matching strategy Assessment Strategies Handout Formative and Summative Assessments

Formative Assessments  Select the formative assessments that would match your outcome

Summative Assessments  Application Students will apply, demonstrate, solve… Problem scenario Problem set Demonstration of skill Role Play Lab Report Field Experience/Internship Report

Summative Assessments  Analysis Students will categorize, examine, induce… Case study Journal Field Experience/Internship Reflection Complex problems Conduct experiment/ test hypothesis Observations Examination of an object, writing, process

Summative Assessments  Synthesis Students will design, integrate, relate… Project Research Thesis Essay Design an experiment Annotated bibliography Create a video or poster Portfolio

Summative Assessments  Evaluation Students will conclude, critique, justify… Debate Essay Report Journal Write an editorial/position paper Comment on authors’ perspectives Book review Prepare a committee/team briefing paper

What do you do with the results?  Provide feedback to students More than grades… Formative assessment Summative assessment

The advantages of rubrics  Setting & clarifying expectations  Intra-rater reliability  Inter-rater reliability  Data collection

What do we do with the results?  Reinforce/alter curriculum  Alter teaching and/or assessment strategies  Alter prerequisites/entrance requirements

Issues with all assessments  Are our tests valid?  Are our grading practices fair and consistent?  The time it takes to grade  How can we ensure students are not cheating?  Post-requisite Courses – Are the students ready?

Where do I go for help with assessment? UCF Faculty Center Resources