Assessing an Online Capstone Course: Finding Ways to Measure Significant Learning Outcomes

Ted Takamura, PhD, CPA, CFE, CGMAEastern Oregon University

Business FacultyGresham, Oregon

IACBE International Conference April 14-17, 2015

Integration of Disciplines

ENVIRONMENT

COMPETITORS CUSTOMERS

HISTORY

Culture

Communication

Context

Core

PURPOSE OF EDUCATION

Good courses are courses that…• Challenge students to significant learning.• Use active forms of learning.• Have teachers who care –about the subject, their

students, and about teaching and learning.• Have teachers who interact well with students.• Have a good system of feedback, assessment, and

grading.--L. Dee Fink (2003, p. 28)

CORE COMPETENCIES

Principles of Marketing

Principles of Management

Information Management

Ethics and Society

Principles of Finance

Operations Management

Capstone

FORMULATING SIGNIFICANT LEARNING GOALS

Four areas of integration for assessment are:• Culture• Communication• Context• Core Values

FORMULATING SIGNIFICANT LEARNING GOALS

Culture

Organizational Learning

Change and Adaptation

Identity

FORMULATING SIGNIFICANT LEARNING GOALS

Communication

Common Language

Goal(s)

Purpose

FORMULATING SIGNIFICANT LEARNING GOALS

ContextResources

Skill Set(s)

Time = Learning Curve

FORMULATING SIGNIFICANT LEARNING GOALS

Core Values

Knowledge

Problem solving

Application

Integration of Disciplines

ENVIRONMENT

COMPETITORS CUSTOMERS

HISTORY

Culture

Communication

Context

Core

Summary

• Have a good system of assessment.

• Put it all together.

• Measure it.

• Get results.

QUESTIONS FOR AUDIENCE

Have you experienced a connection with your online students? Can you give us an example of a consistent method of connecting early in the course? Do most of your students successfully complete their capstone course? What might you attribute this success to?

Questionsor

Comments

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References• Buckman, K. (2007, Fall). What counts as assessment in the 21st

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References• Moon, J. (1999). Reflection in learning and professional

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Assessing an Online Capstone Course: Finding Ways to Measure Significant Learning Outcomes

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