Student Learning Outcome Assessment at the Program Level: Process and Strategies Sacramento City College Curriculum Development-Workshop September 20, 2005 Facilitator: Alan Keys, Faculty Research Coordinator, SCC – keysa@scc.losrios.edu, ext. 2941.
What is a Student Learning Outcome? Student learning outcomes can be categorized in terms of… What students should know, and/or What they are able to do …when they have completed a course, PROGRAM, student service intervention, certificate, or degree.
Model of SLO Assessment “Plan – Do – Review” Model of SLO Assessment
Why engage in assessment of SLOs at the program level? Clarify program learning objectives/outcomes for students and faculty Provide specific insight on student achievement in the cognitive, affective and skill domains Enhance alignment of program design and learning outcomes Facilitate collaboration that improves teaching and learning Inform curricular development at course and program level
Program Outcome Development Process: Step 1: Who Cares? Identify stakeholders in program outcome development: Internal – External – Select key representatives from stakeholder groups Recruit collaborators
Program Outcome Development Process: Step 2: Steal the Wheel Identify preexisting sources for outcomes External sources Do they have stated expectations for your program grads? Can they provide input on desired outcomes? Internal sources Program goals GE requirements, College Mission Other LRCCD programs
Activity 1: What do external sources want your program grads to know or be able to do? ________________________________________________________________
Activity 1 (cont.): What do internal sources indicate your program grads should know or be able to do? ________________________________________________________________
Program Outcome Development Process: Step 3: Compile, prioritize, and write PLOs ________________________________________________________________
Program Outcome Development Process: Step 4: Review Course Outcomes Identify and/or categorize core and elective courses for program Review course outcomes and enhance/refine, if needed. Engage in collaborative content review to align courses with program outcomes(Activity #2) Check articulation issues
Activity 2: SLO to PLO Alignment Matrix Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4 Course 5 PLO 1 PLO 2 PLO 3 I=Introduced; E=Emphasized R=Reinforced
Key Considerations for Program Learning Outcome Development Whenever possible… Identify and/or create direct measures of assessment. Encourage use of multiple measures of assessment (exams, papers, projects, peer-assessment) Design course/program-embedded measures. Determine how outcomes will be integrated with course/program assessment. Examine other factors that may influence student's achievement of stated objective and assess the impact that these may have on your measures.
Close the Loop Use SLO assessment results to inform curriculum design Make it formative and focused on improvement Share insights and collaborate Accept that assessment is ongoing
Selected Web Resources California Assessment Institute / RP Group http://cai.cc.ca.us/ CSU, Sacramento Learning Outcomes Project http://www.calstate.edu/AcadAff/SLOA
SLO to PLO Alignment Matrix PLOs Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 Course 4 Course 5 I=Introduced; E=Emphasized R=Reinforced