What do you do when your assessment data are in? Using Assessment Data to Improve Teaching and Learning 1

Step 1: Identify Program Goals Step 3: Select Assessment Methods Step 4: Implement: Data Collection Step 5: Analyze the Data: Step 6: Report Findings Step 7: Close the Loop Step 8: Revise the Assessment Plan and Continue the Loop Cycle of Assessment Step 2: Specify Intended Learning Outcomes (Objectives)

 Examination of student work  Capstone projects  Essays, papers, oral presentations  Scholarly presentations or publications  Locally developed examinations  Major field tests (undergraduate)  Measures of professional activity  Performance at internship, placement, sites  Supervisor evaluations  Miscellaneous Indirect Measures  Satisfaction/evaluation questionnaires.3

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 Objective met, no action needed  Revise a goal and/or objective  A minor or major curriculum change needed  Increase admission requirements, remediation avenues for students, adding prerequisites, increasing or changing specific assignments in existing courses  Provide support structures such as tutoring or student help sessions  Recommend how to implement the action.5

 “If you didn’t document it, it never happened…”  Document your thought process for all actions. The clinician’s mantra 6

 Two broad relationships are possible:  A standard was established that students met  A standard was established that students did not meet  Document reasoning for reaching a decision about the relationship chosen from the two alternatives shown above. 7

◦ To be meaningful, assessment results must be studied, interpreted, and used ◦ Using the results is called “closing the loop” ◦ Conduct outcomes assessment because the findings can be used to improve our programs 8

 Where assessment and evaluation come together… ◦ Assessment:  Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information about student learning ◦ Evaluation  Using assessment findings to improve institutions, divisions, and department.9

 To Inform Educational Program Review Committees  To Inform Planning and Budgeting in order to set priorities  To Improve Teaching and Learning  To Promote Continuous Improvement  To Meet accreditation requirements.10

 Briefly report methodology for each outcome  Document where the students are meeting the intended outcome  Document where they are not meeting the outcome  Document decisions made to improve the program and assessment plan  Refine assessment method and repeat process after proper time for implementation.11

 Beware the Lake Woebegone Effect ◦ …where all the students are above average… 12

 Many degree programs in the Fogelman College used their assessment results to perform evaluations to make program improvements and refine their assessment procedures and educational program -- Thanks to input from the “Closing the Loop” committees..13

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 What remains most unclear or confusing to you about closing the loop at this point?  To provide comments or ask questions, contact Lloyd Brooks: 15