National Learning Infrastructure Initiative Transformative Assessment Project

NLII – Initiative of EDUCAUSE Mission – use technology to enable Education that is... Active and Learner- Centered Dynamic & Lifelong Collaborative Cost Effective Accessible High Quality

The core NLII assumption/function  To achieve the mission (use of technology to support the new academy), all stakeholders must be deeply engaged  Each group has its own perspective, language, methodologies, agenda  NLII’s role is to –facilitate the engagement, harvest and disseminate the results –create tools, processes, methods, & resources

Transformative Assessment Project (TAP) Create tools to support teams from institutions that  are involved in significant institutional improvement of teaching and learning with technology;  use assessment in a variety of ways to guide and support that effort;  share a commitment to the purposeful application of assessment and dissemination of assessment results to support deep change.

What is meant by “transformative”? trans, across, and forma, shape, that which shapes: that which has been shaped.  Emergent from institutional vision, mission, culture and context;  Focused on learning outcomes, processes and purposes (honors learners and learning);  Qualitative in nature;

What is meant by “transformative”?  Based upon iterative, collaborative generation of a conceptual framework that –articulates shared institutional understandings of how learning occurs best, and that explains relationships among learning, teaching, course and program development, application of technology, and institutional and community organization

Power of conceptual frameworks  Gain agreement on shared goals  For the purpose of achieving the shared goals, develop and then agree to operate from a common set of: –Principles –Ontologies (the pieces of the picture & their relationship) –Vocabularies (glossary) –Reflective experiences (using observation tools and rubrics)

What is meant by “transformative”?  Large-scale, systemic and contagious (has the potential to move through an institution or system);  Enabled by the intelligent and appropriate use of technology;  Informed by assessment and a commitment to data-driven decision-making.

TAP work products  Conceptual framework white paper  Transformative assessment rubric  TAP planning methodology  Community of practice (focus session, New Academy VCOP)

Power of community  A place to negotiate, share, test, validate and refine the elements of conceptual frameworks  A testbed for building, understanding and refining practice based on shared principles  An engine for knowledge creation

Possible TAP work – 2004?  TAP “kit” – package the work products  Case studies  TAP virtual community of practice (support for TAP institutional teams)  More substantial (grant-funded) support for TAP institutional teams  Customize kit to the change catalysts (accreditation self-study, pressure from stakeholders)

NLII Contact Information Gary Brown Steve Ehrmann Joan Lippincott Vicki Suter BOOKMARK: asp asp