Foundations of Assessment I Understanding the Assessment Process

Outcomes of Today’s Presentation Participants will be able to: 1.Articulate why assessment is critical to our effectiveness in student affairs 2.Describe the assessment cycle and components within 3.Use newly developed skills to practice assessment planning

A few questions What comes to mind when you hear the word assessment? What is your previous experience with assessment? Are you currently working on an assessment project?

What is Assessment? Assessment: Any effort to gather, analyze, and interpret evidence which describes departmental, divisional, or program effectiveness.

Why Focus on Assessment? Continuous improvement Internal and external accountability It’s an expected competency within our profession It’s good practice and we owe it to the students

Assessment – What do we Measure? Tracking, or Frequency of use Needs Assessment Satisfaction Assessment Student Cultures and Campus Environment Assessment Student Learning Comparable Institution Assessment, or Benchmarking Measuring Effectiveness against Standards

What are we trying to do and why are we doing it? What do we expect the student to know or be able to do as a result of our program? How well are we doing it? How do we know? How do we use the information to improve? Does that work? Source: Bresciani, M.J. General curiosity should drive assessment:

The Assessment Process

The Assessment Cycle Website: Assessment Resources FormsAssessment Resources Forms

What’s the Problem? Gather Evidence Adjust based on results The Cycle Simplified

Step 1: What is the purpose of your program or service? What problem are you trying to solve? This step is a critical one Suggested Resource: Assessment Conversation Guide Assessment Conversation Guide and Project Request FormProject Request Form

Divisional Goals/Mission Department Goals/Mission Program or Service Individual Goals Division of Student Affairs Residential Life Goals and Mission BC’s Strategic Plan, NEASC Institutional Level EXAMPLES ASSESSMENT & PLANNING LEVELS Individual Learning / Development Plans Pathways Program Step 2: How Does Your Program or Service Align with Your Departmental Goals and Mission?

Step 3: Identify Stakeholders Primary stakeholders: are those ultimately affected, either positively or negatively Secondary stakeholders: are the ‘intermediaries’, that is, persons or organizations who are indirectly affected Key stakeholders: (who can also belong to the first two groups) have significant influence.

Step 4: Identify Outcomes Operational Outcomes Examine what a program or process is to do, achieve or accomplish for its own improvement; generally needs/satisfaction driven. Learning Outcomes Examine what you expect students will be able to know, or be able to do (attitudes, skills, and knowledge) as a result of participating in an activity, program or service. Source: Campus Labs

Outcomes should be… 1.Meaningful: How does the outcome support the departmental mission or goal? 2.Manageable: What is needed to foster the achievement of the outcome? Is the outcome realistic? 3.Measurable: How will you know if the outcome is achieved? What will be the assessment method Source: Campus Labs

How To Write a Learning Outcome

 Surveys  Rubrics  Interviews  Pre/Post evaluation  Reflection  Quick assessments  Document Analysis  Reviewing existing data  Focus Groups  Demonstrations  Observations  Written papers, projects  Posters and presentations  Portfolios  Mobile data collection  Tests, exams, quizzes Common Methods for Gathering Data Step 5: Determine Your Method. Ask: Is this the best way to collect evidence? Suggested Resource: Website: Assessment ToolsWebsite: Assessment Tools

It Begins with a Conversation 1.In pairs, each person will select a program and walk through the conversation guide with your partner. 2. Debrief: a. What came up in your conversation? b. What were the points of confusion? c. Was there anything you talked about that was not in the conversation guide?

Resources Assessment WebsiteAssessment Website

Questions/Discussion