RE:
Assessment
The
College of DuPage
Student
Outcomes Assessment
Linking Student Outcomes Assessment to the Academic Quality Improvement Project
The continuous improvement initiative, including the Academic Quality Improvement Project (AQIP), at College of DuPage has a strong focus on student learning. In order to improve students’ learning, an institution needs to directly measure learning outcomes and incorporate results in the overall decision-making processes. AQIP encourages an institution to assess and document how well students learn what is expected of them. Institutions should have specific measures used to indicate success in helping students learn as well as processes to communicate learning expectations.
AQIP’s Quality Criterion 1 is
“Helping Students Learn” and examines an institution’s systems and processes
for determining and documenting effective teaching and learning. The present
assessment at College of DuPage will continue to be an integral part of our
institution’s systems and processes. For example, the CAAP assessments of
general education competencies will enable us to determine whether or not we are
succeeding in improving students’ skills in reading, writing and mathematics,
one of our three vital few Quality Action Projects. The number of students
taking the CAAP assessment instrument will be included as a process measure in
our action plans to determine whether or not we are meeting our goals. Outcome
measures will include both the reading and writing level of the student
population as measured by the CAAP assessment instrument.
The SOAC/Innovation Incubator Pilot
Multi-section Assessment Projects will help disciplines determine a process to
measure whether students actually demonstrate successful learning of the
important objectives within a given course.
Successful NCA Presentation
“Twenty-Eight Right- and Left-Handed Tools for All Seasons: A Toolbox of Useful Items to Embed a Culture of Assessment in General Education, Discipline Level, and the Classroom,” presented by Russ Watson, Jan Geesaman, and Ingrid Peternel, was a popular session at The Higher Learning Commission North Central Association Annual Meeting on April 1, 2001. It had the highest selling tape among non- NCA director presentations. The toolbox included tools in classroom assessment, discipline level assessment, general education assessment, and resources for faculty, students, and the community at large. A copy of the summary paper can be found on the SOAC website -NCA Presentation
FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Does the TLC offer assessment workshops?
A: On April 17, 2001, the TLC sponsored a workshop entitled Classroom Assessment Techniques: New Strategies to Learn About Students Learning. Facilitated by Ingrid Peternel, Coordinator of Classroom Assessment, the highly interactive workshop covered topics such as how classroom assessment fits in the hierarchy of higher ed assessment, getting started, using discipline specific techniques, and learning from others’ use of CATs. The workshop will be offered in the fall. All faculty are encouraged to attend.
Q: To whom do I submit my spring quarter CAT
forms?
A: CAT forms can be found on the website (http://www.cod.edu/Dept/Outcomes/indrpt.htm). These forms should be sent to the Students Outcomes Assessment Committee via e-mail. You may also deliver a printed copy of the survey to the Office of Assessment and Testing - IC 100.
Q: How can I apply to begin a multi-section
assessment project for Fall 2001?
A: Send an application to Marianne Hunnicutt, Academic Services IC 2004, by May 24,2001. Applications can be found on the website (http://www.cod.edu/Dept/Outcomes/Index.htm ) or contact Marianne Hunnicutt for information via e-mail (hunnicut@cdnet.cod.edu) or phone (942-4306).
The Mathematical Classroom Assessment Techniques (Math CATs) are designed to assess the following thinking skills in mathematics: finding and fixing errors, making plausible estimates, defining new concepts, organizing data, and drawing conclusions. These CATs can be found at: http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/cl1/flag/cat/catframe.asp To link directly to the CATs go to the top left box and scroll down to “Mathematical Thinking CATs”.
Assessment
in Action: Spring 2001 CAAP Testing
COD has completed its third year of CAAP assessments with participation from randomly selected faculty and their classes. We assess entry-level classes during fall quarter, and 200-level and exit-level classes during spring quarter. This year, in each class selected for CAAP participation, one student was randomly chosen to receive a $20 gift certificate for the COD bookstore.
While COD students score at or above the national mean on most of the CAAP batteries, we will need continued work in the areas of reading and critical thinking. Emphasis on these areas will probably emerge next fall quarter.
The theme of the June 22-25, AAHE Assessment Conference 2001 in Denver, Colorado is “From Expectations to Results: What Are We Finding, and How Are We Improving?” Information is on the AAHE website (http://www.aahe.org/).