FAQ- Student Outcomes Assessment

Outcome Assessment at College of DuPage

Assessment FAQ’s

How often are Assessment Reports collected? The College Wide Assessment Committee distributes and collects Classroom Assessment Report forms once per year. Full-time faculty report each Spring Quarter. Our goal is to collect the initial round of part-time reports this Winter. Ultimately, through education and the growing involvement of all College of DuPage faculty in the assessment process, we hope to create an assessment friendly and aware educational environment, positioning CAT’s as tools worth employing regularly whether or not a formal report is in the offing.

Do teachers have to put their names on the form? As the form indicates, names are optional. However, in order accurately to gauge the level of involvement, and to facilitate collection and publication, we do request that all teachers include their division and discipline information in the spaces provided.

How much of my classroom time will I have to devote to C.A.T.’s? Many C.A.T’s, such as "The Muddies Point" and "The Minute Paper" can be distributed and collected in under five minutes. Others that you may wish to use might take longer, but can be built seamlessly into class assignments and activities so that they enhance achievement of class goals rather than proving a disruption. Perhaps the best approach is to experiment with a number of techniques, combining or adapting them to suit your goals and your students’ needs. Eventually, many teachers develop C.A.T.’s of their own. Indeed, if you have favorite tools that you already use, we encourage you to select those for your report. You may want to check out Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville’s site, from which the attached examples are drawn. It is particularly handy if you are looking for quick, clear introductions to basic techniques and ideas.

Where can I find out more about specific C.A.T’s or the College’s overall assessment activities? College of DuPage’s Outcomes Assessment Web Site, www.cod.edu/outcomes, is one great place to begin. There you will find copies of the Assessment Newsletter, links to a variety of online assessment resources, an overview of the history and goals of the College-Wide Assessment Committee, and samples of reports collected during the first round. You should also feel free to contact the members of the Classroom and Multi-Section Assessment Committee if you have questions or suggestions. See attachment for committee members’ names and phone extensions, which are also listed at the web site.

Do I really have to do this? Does it really matter? As the attached memo explains, College of DuPage is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). In accordance with both the NCA’s initiatives and the college’s own mission statement, all College of DuPage faculty members and academic disciplines are responsible for participating in ongoing assessment activities designed to develop and support excellence in teaching and learning. In short, yes—assessment really does matter, both because it is a condition of our accreditation and because it has tremendous potential for making a positive impact on our teaching and on our students’ learning, which is the most important bottom line of all. Although participation is voluntary, and participants may elect to remain anonymous, we do encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to support the mission of the college. Undertaken in the spirit of support and cooperation, assessment helps us identify, share, and build upon our best teaching and learning strategies. We think that’s an opportunity not to be missed.