Conquering A Virtual Accreditation Transparent, Continuous Improvement A Collaboration between the Roger Williams University School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation and Department of Instructional Design linda

Sample Accreditation Evidence Room Initial Goal 2011-2012 Virtual Accreditation Visit from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) linda Virtual Accreditation Sample Accreditation Evidence Room

It all starts with a PLAN…. CHALLENGE Centralize & Organize All Activities and Outcomes for Self Assessment Inform SAAHP Faculty & Students Track Progress Over Time Provide Just-in-Time Access to All Constituents linda

SOLUTION: SAKAI PROJECT SITE Greg

PLANES HANDBOOK Greg Committees meet monthly and upload notes to keep everyone apprised of activity Shared Governance site

SAAHP PLANES- Continuous Improvement STRUCTURE PROCESS OUTCOMES 3 YEARS STRUCTURE PROCESS OUTCOMES steve 6 YEARS

Challenge Create a Program Curriculum Map - Identify which courses, and which assignments within courses, would address: 32 NAAB standards Two Ability Levels Steve

Solution: SAAHP Program Map Steve

Challenge Collect student work in electronic form for a wide range of courses as a manageable process for both students and faculty Linda Provides an integrated web-based course management system with e-portfolio tools that would create an online course site for every Architecture course

Solution: Implement BRIDGES/SAKAI Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE) Utilize electronic assignments for each Architecture course Linda Provides an integrated web-based course management system with e-portfolio tools that would create an online course site for every Architecture course DIGITAL VIDEO SAKAI ASSIGNMENTS DIGITAL STILL CAMERA SCANNERS PDF CONVERSIONS

Pilot Spring 2010 pilot conducted 14 Architecture courses built in Bridges 200 students 12 faculty Utilize electronic assignments embedded in course matrices to start collecting student work Program-wide Implementation Fall 2010 Linda

Establish Standardized File Conventions for All Assignments Greg

Next Steps: Develop Course/Program Matrices Embed in All SAAHP Courses Link assignments to Matrix Cells by standard Standardize file naming convention for all assignment submissions Greg

Students upload assignments that automatically link to the appropriate standard Greg

Bridges assignment submissions are aggregated in the course, graded and linked to course matrix in this space Greg

Note that with a simple click a faculty member can link an assignment in Sakai to a specific cell in multiple matrices. This linking attaches tags to the data that identify it by standard and level of achievement without any additional work. Greg

Cross-Link to Program Matrix Linda

Challenge Load time for large program matrix for accrediting team Click …and wait… and wait….and wait Linda Provides an integrated web-based course management system with e-portfolio tools that would create an online course site for every Architecture course

SOLUTION: C.A.R.S Linda

Evidence by Course Student Work Aggregated in Course Folders Faculty select samples of exemplary student work and move them into the appropriate course folders along with a syllabus and framing assignments for team review

This Curriculum Assessment and Review System (CARS) provides Web-Based Interface Aggregates all Student Evidence for easy access and review Greg

Provides curriculum maps for each program that identify which courses, and assignments within those courses, supports student progress towards each standard Greg

Student work and framing assignments linked from course folders NAAB accreditation requires samples of student work from courses that demonstrate student ability for each of 32 standards Student work and framing assignments linked from course folders Greg

PORTS: Evidence by Student E-Portfolios Showcase Exemplary Work Feature: Student-selected work Displays progress toward standards Student reflections on their own learning and development Comments from instructors, peer reviewers and even internship/co-op employers. Future revolving gallery on SAAHP Website to illustrate the quality of work done by our students to prospective students, parents and possible employers. Linda

Individual Student E-Portfolios Showcase Student Learning Linda

E-Portfolios Showcase Exemplary Work Linda

Linda

Lessons Learned Start early (up to three year process) Be flexible (!) Think outside immediate software constraints Involve faculty from beginning Identify faculty mentors Linda

Lessons Learned Provide technical support & training to both students and faculty Plan beyond accreditation to continuous improvement Technology-enabled assessment improves our self awareness as well as our awareness of each other Linda

Impact/Results Increased student performance based on: Student awareness of learning outcomes/professional expectations Observation of work-in-progress Ability to reflect on goals and achievements Steve

Impact/Results Increased instructor performance based on: Observation of student learning across cross sections Focuses attention on course development Fosters collaborative course development among faculty Steve

Impact/Results Increased program performance based on: Heightened awareness of program objectives Faculty ability to see whether learning outcomes are being achieved Steve

Impact/Results Building a sense of academic community Within the University, student and faculty mentoring between levels Nationally, working with a network of institutions engaged in similar practices Steve

Impact/Results Increased external presence through publication of student outcomes and showcasing of student work Steve

Questions?? Linda Photo by Davide Restivo. Accessed from Flickr at: www.flickr.com/photos/somemixedstuff/2403249501/

CONTACT INFO: Stephen White – swhite@rwu.edu Gregory Laramie – glaramie@rwu.edu Linda Beith – lbeith@rwu.edu Russell Beauchemin – rbeauchemin@rwu.edu Linda