Assessment 101: What do you (really) need to know? Melinda Jackson, SJSU Assessment Director October

Focus on Learning Outcomes Traditional course development: Instructor centered (What I am going to tell you.) “Students will learn to…” Outcomes-based course development: Learner centered (What do I want students to be able to do at the end of the term? “Students will describe/demonstrate/analyze…” Adapted from: Sharlene Sayegh WASC Assessment 101 Workshop, Oct. 3, 2014

The Assessment Cycle 1) Design Assessment: Goals, outcomes, evidence, criteria and standards (ex. rubrics) 2) Publicly share outcomes, criteria and standards 3) Provide intentional learning experiences (curriculum & pedagogy) 4) Collect, review and analyze evidence of student learning 5) Interpret results, identify, and implement revisions to pedagogy, curriculum, programs, criteria or outcomes. Based on Driscoll & Wood, 2007

Assessment Vocabulary Assessment (of student learning) – gathering information about student learning and/or the learning experience in order to improve student learning Evaluation – making judgments about the quality of student learning on the basis of assessment evidence Learning Outcome (L.O.) – description of Learning expectations: what we expect students to know, do, and be when they leave a course, program or institution. L.O.s “convey to the learner exactly what is to be accomplished,” “identify specifically what should be learned.” (AALL, 1994) Learning results: The knowledge, abilities, and/or attitudes students demonstrably possess at the conclusion of a learning experience.

Assessment Vocabulary Authentic Assessment – assignments/assessments designed to replicate “real world” activities via relevant and meaningful questions, tasks, problems, and projects. Often they are powerful forms of learning, as well as productive sources of insight into student ability. Alignment – connections among components of a learning experience (e.g. curriculum, pedagogy, etc.) that support student achievement of an intended learning outcome. Benchmark – a standard of performance against which assessment results can be judged (often standardized exams, national accreditation standards, etc.) “Closing the loop” – the intentional process of responding to assessment results by implementing changes intended to improve student learning, or concluding change is unnecessary.

SJSU Assessment Vocabulary On our campus: University Learning Goals (ULGs) Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) Student Learning Outcomes/Objectives (SLOs) (still used in some programs, based on external accreditation agency definitions) For GE courses: GE Learning Outcomes (GELOs), defined for each GE Area Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

University Learning Goals 1. Specialized knowledge 2. Broad integrative knowledge 3. Intellectual skills Core Competencies (WASC) 1. Information literacy 2. Written communication 3. Oral communication 4. Critical thinking 5. Quantitative reasoning 4. Applied knowledge 5. Social and global responsibilities Program Learning Outcomes GE Learning Outcomes

Relationships between Annual Assessment Reports and Program Planning

Who does what? (What do I have to do???) Instructors: Define Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) Link CLOs to assignments, and Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) GE courses: link to GELOs, collect assessment data (work with GE course coordinator) GE Course Coordinators: Be very familiar with GE Guidelines and GELOs for your course Work with all instructors for your GE course, ensure that GELOs are correctly included in syllabi, collect assessment data based on schedule, submit annual GE course assessment report due October 1 Department Assessment Coordinators: Facilitate collection of assessment data for relevant PLOs each year, based on assessment schedule Submit Annual Program Assessment Report, due June 1 Work with College Assessment Facilitator to learn and share latest information and policies on assessment with department colleagues, help to build assessment culture focused on continuous improvement

Where do I find information and resources? Undergraduate Studies Website: Program Assessment: GE Info: Program Records (archives, previous reports): College Assessment Facilitators: Director of Assessment: