1. Program Goals Just Arent Enough: Strategies for Putting Learning Outcomes into Words Dr. Jill L. Lane Research Associate/Program Manager Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence Dr. Barbara Wiens-Tuers Associate Professor of Economics Penn State Altoona

2. Workshop Goals To guide you through the process of: Identifying your program goals Developing measurable learning outcomes Identifying which courses in your program are producing the desired learning outcomes.

3. Why Conduct a Program Assessment? To determine whether the intended goals and learning outcomes are being met To keep the curriculum current To bring to the surface ways in which the course or program might be improved To assess for accreditation

4. Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

5. Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

6. Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

7. Identify Program Goals Goals specify what the program intends to accomplish Goals are written broadly and do not necessarily specify exactly what the student will know or be able to do Sample Program Goal: The program will produce graduates who can think critically, solve problems, and make decisions

8. Health and Human Development Program Goal Graduates of the Physical Therapy Assistant Program will be prepared to understand and implement the interventions that are prescribed by the physical therapist.

9. Physics Program Goal Graduates will acquire the theoretical and experimental background for work in areas such as acoustics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, mathematical physics, and engineering.

10. Comparative Literature Program Goal Students will obtain a global awareness through a wide range of international literary and language experiences that are critical in today's world.

11. Psychology Program Goal Students will understand and generate applications of psychology to individual, social and organizational issues.

12. Engineering Program Goal Students will have the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.

13. Communications Program Goal Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications

14. Activity 1: Goal Development List at least 3 goals for your program. Trigger Questions: Program Level: Are there specific accreditation or certification requirements for your curricular area? What are the needs of the potential student population upon graduation?

15. Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program or goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

16. Identifying Learning Outcomes Outcomes describe what the students must know or do upon completing the program or course. Outcomes help produce evidence that your program or course is meeting its intended goals. Outcomes are measurable. Outcomes statements contain verbs If applicable, program outcomes should incorporate appropriate accreditation standards.

17. Developing Learning Outcomes There are different types of outcomes: Knowledge Skills Attitudes

18. Knowledge Outcomes Synthesis and integration of information Learn new techniques and methods Evaluating research methods

19. Skill Outcomes Analytical Analyze problems from multiple perspectives Communication Communicates effectively when writing and/or speaking Research Designs appropriate experiment to answer question Teamwork Shares information with others

20. Attitude Outcomes Identifies beliefs about the nature of the field Indicates perceptions about interdisciplinary connections

21. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Distinguish between different types of aerobic conditioning exercises Correctly measure standard vital signs Recognize and monitor responses to positional changes and activities Program Goal: Graduates of the Physical Therapy Assistant Program will be prepared to understand and implement the interventions that are prescribed by the physical therapist. Health and Human Development

22. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Evaluate an article from a discipline-specific text and write a critique using theoretical principles. Employ the correct procedure for a given experiment. Program Goal: Graduates will acquire the theoretical and experimental background for work in areas such as acoustics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, mathematical physics, and engineering. Physics

23. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Analyze a text who setting is outside of the U.S. and infer the social and economic conditions based on the authors descriptions. Compare a non-U.S. publication with a U.S. publication and show the similarities and differences between the two settings. Program Goal: Students will obtain a global awareness through a wide range of international literary and language experiences that are critical in today's world. Comparative Literature

24. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Distinguish between several different psychological issues Recommend a course of treatment for an individual based on the issues presented. Program Goal: Students will understand and generate applications of psychology to individual, social and organizational issues Psychology

25. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Choose the appropriate method for testing the strength of materials. Create a hypothesis and the methods necessary to test their hypothesis Program Goal: Students will have the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data. Engineering

26. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to: Analyze a film for its inclusion or exclusion of certain diverse groups. Write an unbiased news article about a two-sided issue. Program Goal: Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications. Communications

27. Activity 2: Outcome Development Choose one of the goals from Activity 1 and develop learning outcomes for that goal. Trigger Questions: What should students know upon successfully completing the program or course? What skills should students possess upon successfully completing the program or course? Think: If I am a student in your course or program what do I have to do to demonstrate that I have completed the course or program successfully?

28. Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program or course goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

29. Determining Course Contribution to Program Outcomes Use a mapping matrix to determine which courses are contributing to the attainment of specific program outcomes and goals Helps to identify gaps or incorrect sequencing of courses. Helps to determine where internal evaluations should take place.

30. Activity 3: Mapping Outcomes to Courses Using the list of outcomes you developed in Activity 2: List courses in the program across the top of the worksheet Place a check mark in each box to indicate the courses in your program where the outcome is covered.

31. Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes Select evaluation methods and tools Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve