Phil Dunwoody, Gerald Kruse, Dave Hsiung, David Sowell, Doug Stiffler, Belle Tuten, and Jim Tuten Juniata College Huntingdon, PA

SoTL Themes for Assessment Promoting Critical Thinking Sustainability Continue strong attendance (averaged , averaged ) New projects model transition from passive observer to active practitioner…

Reminders Learning Communities Teaching Excellence Fridays 3:30 – 5:00pm, Founders 421 Aug 31, Sept 21, Oct 5, Nov 2, Nov 16 and Dec 7 Junior Faculty – Susan Prill Tuesdays 4:00 pm, Rockwell Seminar Room Sept 11, Sept 25, Oct 9, Oct 23, Nov 6, Nov 27, Dec 11 Grants Group – Jeff Demarest Moodle, SoTL Webpage, Sign-in sheet…

"I know this isn't true about your faculty," he said to chuckles from the audience, but "a lot of our faculty... aren't wild about assessment. It makes the hair go up on the back of their necks."

Juniata College Provost Jim Lakso, August 4,

Middle States, Working Group 14 Assessment of Student Learning Institutional Learning Outcomes Department Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes

Curriculum Committee Requirements In new course proposals, faculty must provide the “objectives, skills and knowledge students are expected to gain” and answer the question, “how will you evaluate the students in the course?”

Course Learning Outcomes Curriculum Committee Requirements In new course proposals, faculty must provide the “objectives, skills and knowledge students are expected to gain” and answer the question, “how will you evaluate the students in the course?” Possible “New” Terminology A Student Learning Outcome (SLO) for a course is a brief statement of what a student will know and be able to do at the end of a course.

Syllabi Upload Random sample of 50 courses offered during All faculty are required to upload electronic copies of their syllabi Of the 50 courses, 15 (30%), did not have a syllabus on file Next section or closest number course was substituted to maintain sample size of 50

Rubric, existence only 2 - Explicitly listed as Student Learning Outcomes, Student Goals, Goals, etc. 1 - NOT Explicitly listed BUT CAN be inferred from the course syllabus 0 - NOT listed AND can NOT be inferred from the course syllabus

Results of 50 Syllabi Reviewed 2 - Explicitly listed as Student Learning Outcomes, Student Goals, Goals, etc. 28 of 50 (56%) 1 - NOT Explicitly listed BUT CAN be inferred from the course syllabus 11 of 50 (22%) 0 - NOT listed AND can NOT be inferred from the course syllabus 11 of 50 (22%)

Suggestions for writing SLOs Be specific Don’t use passive voice, use active verbs Analyze Classify Design Evaluate Perform Synthesize Teach Assessment Quickies #2, Writing Student Learning Outcomes

Levels of Student Learning Basic Define, Label, Recognize, … Mid-range Apply, Interpret, Solve Advanced Compose, Formulate, Plan, Judge, Defend Assessment Quickies #3, Levels of Student Learning

SLOs, before and after First Draft: Be familiar with major theorists and concepts in _______ How would you revise? Assessment Quickies #2, Writing Student Learning Outcomes

SLOs, before and after First Draft: Be familiar with major theorists and concepts in _______ How would you revise? Be able to name the major theorists and to define important concepts in _______ Assessment Quickies #2, Writing Student Learning Outcomes

SLOs, before and after First Draft: Be familiar with major theorists and concepts in _______ How would you revise? Be able to name the major theorists and to define important concepts in _______ Basic level SLO Assessment Quickies #2, Writing Student Learning Outcomes

APA Goal 7: Communication Skills. Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats. SLO: Students will be able to make a formal presentation summarizing research on a particular topic. Teaching Methods: The course instructor will cover the basic elements in a research presentation and will demonstrate such a presentation for the students. Students will assess the instructor using the same grading rubric that the instructor will later use to assess students. As a designated CS course, the course will comply with college CS requirements (shown below). Each student will be responsible for two presentations. Feedback will be provided after each presentation. Assessment: The presentation will each be graded using a rubric provided to the students at the beginning of class.

You CAN do this, if you haven’t already… At the Learning Community on Teaching Excellence this Friday (31.Aug, 3:30-5:00pm, Founders 421), we will discuss writing SLOs in your syllabus Real examples, bring your course goals as well Assessment measures(s)(direct or indirect) Data gathering discussion How to “close the loop” by reviewing the data and modifying the course

History Department Demo…