Assessment & Student Learning Outcomes Ben Peterson, Ph.D. Teaching Innovations Office, UTLC bcpeters@uncg.edu

Today’s Plan Your experience with SLOs Form and Function Assessment Design Tools: Visualizing SLOs

Participants will be able to… Reflect on existing practices of writing learning outcomes Identify the key components of the most beneficial learning outcomes Experiment with additional ways of using learning outcomes in a course Recognize strategies for making the process of constructing SLOs more useful

How do you construct and use learning outcomes now?

How do you construct and use learning outcomes now? As a begrudged requirement? As a syllabus guide? As a course design tool? As a teaching tool? All of the above?

Form and Function

Astin’s I-E-O Model and Assessment Environments Inputs Outcomes

Learning Outcomes Express what the student will be able to know or do following a particular experience in an environment Focus on recognizing the culmination of efforts Are measurable (i.e., identifiable or observable) Are detailed and specific Identify specific actions (using precise action verbs)

Use in Learning Environments Initial Communication Ongoing Communication Formative Assessment Agile Assignments Summative Assessment Course Revision

Writing with Function in Mind Gen Ed Requirements Prerequisite Courses Assignments Diverse Learning Experiences

Is there a learning experience for which you would like to be able to give the learner a more directed expectation?

Design and Assessment

Learning Outcomes and Design

The Value of Precision

Specific and Measurable Students will… will appreciate the benefits of exercise science. will understand the scientific method. will become familiar with correct grammar and literary devices. will develop problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. Writing and Assessing Student Learning Outcomes, IUPUI Center for Teaching and Learning

Specific and Measurable Students will… will appreciate exercise as a stress reduction tool. will apply the scientific method in problem solving. will demonstrate the use of correct grammar and various literary devices. will demonstrate critical thinking skills, such as problem solving as it relates to social issues.

Specific and Measurable Students will… will explain how the science of exercise affects stress. will design a grounded research study using the scientific method. will demonstrate the use of correct grammar and various literary devices in creating an essay. will analyze and respond to arguments about racial discrimination.

Specific and Measurable Students will… will explain how the science of exercise affects stress. will design a grounded research study using the scientific method. will demonstrate the use of correct grammar and various literary devices in creating an essay. will analyze and respond to arguments about racial discrimination.

Visualizing Student Learning Outcomes

How do you construct and use learning outcomes now?

How might you construct and use learning outcomes now?

Thanks! Ben Peterson bcpeters@uncg.edu