1. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 SLOs and CCC Libraries: the Whys... Clarifying learning and service objectives Evaluate the effectiveness of instructional and service strategies to improve teaching and services Measure student achievement—how much they know and what can they do

2. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 SLOs and CCC Libraries: more Whys... For accountability and accreditation For organizational effectiveness through a process of continuous improvement The assessment cycle as a mechanism for improving institutional effectiveness

3. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 What is the assessment cycle? National movement of assessing student learning outcomes began more than 20 years Student Learning Outcomes – knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes that a student has attained at the end (or as a result) of his or her engagement in a particular set of collegiate experiences SLOs encompass all instructional and support activities offered by a college—applicable to Library and Learning Support Services

4. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 The assessment cycle applied to Library and Learning Support Services Iterative process Develop outcomes Use outcomes to assess how well students have achieved the expected outcome Based on assessment results, make informed changes to services Once changes are made, a re-assessment is done and its results drive further changes in services

5. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 Graphical representation of the assessment cycle Develop measurable outcomes Assessment: Data collection Analysis Conclusion Modify services to achieve better outcomes

6. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 Keys to using the assessment cycle for continuous improvement Inquiry based Ask the right questions Use multiple measures Direct measures Of the impact of support services on learning Indirect measures Of the impact of support services on learning Qualitative measures Of the impact of program/service components on effective learning skills

7. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 Assessment Cycle as a mechanism for improving institutional effectiveness Extends to institutional learning, not just student learning Use inquiry paradigm, not just data paradigm Data is used to help answer questions Go beyond data that simply reveal the existence of a problem to data that reveal the potential causes for the problem Requires professional development Develop skills to engage in inquiry activities Develop leadership and organizational skills to structure inquiry approaches to bring out individual and institutional learning

8. Cherry Li-Bugg, Los Medanos College, CCL SLO Workshop, March 6, 2008 So who CARES? WE ALL DO! It’s all about improvement librarians! See chart of steps in the assessment cycle, which has inquiry at its core Thank you