What do you do when your assessment data are in?

Using Assessment Data to Improve Teaching and Learning

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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

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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

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“If you didn’t document it, it never happened…”

Document your thought process for all actions.

The clinician’s mantra

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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.

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◦ 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

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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

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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

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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

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Beware the Lake Woebegone Effect

◦ …where all the students are above average…

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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.

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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: lbrooks@memphis.edu

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