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Assessment Training Session with Dr. Linda Dickens
Academic Chairs, Deans and Director of IR
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Attending the session: Total of 11 people. 6 chairs, 1 Dean, 3 VP’s, and Director of IR
08:30am – 9:00am
09:00am – 12:00am
12:00pm – 01:00pm
1:00pm – 04:30pm
Dr. Dickens met with VPAS
Focused Training began. Dr. Dickens started the session with asking what questions or items the
attendees would like to have answered by the end of the day. There were several items
mentioned.
1. Translate the state core objectives to the course level objectives and assessing
those.
Discussed using rubrics – gave examples
2. Course level outcomes translated to program level outcomes has been difficult.
Provided examples of maps. Came up with a matrix for program outcomes
3. Want to know what is wrong and how to fix it – What do we need to do now?
Mapping helped to pave the way
4. Standardized assessments for measuring outcomes – such as ETS. Are there others?
There are others. Critical Thinking Assess. Test, etc
5. Software products that facilitate outcomes assessment
Discussed livetext – Dr.Dickens has heard negative feedback on this.
We are using WEAVE for unit plans but have not used it for learning outcomes
and are looking at eLumen.
5. Effective ways to close the loop in assessment
Reviewed core competency assessment matrix and discussed ways to close the
loop in the classroom and with faculty.
Dr. Dickens provided an assessment overview (slide presentation)
Working Lunch with Chairs, Deans (D-IR) VPs, ACA1 211
Continued the discussions and Dr. Dickens presented examples of completed program review
plans and examples of completed Gen Ed assessment plans. She also reviewed curriculum
mapping techniques and discussed the process of triangulation of program outcome
assessments. She also discussed direct and indirect measures used at NLC.
Discussion with chairs to determine existing level of assessment at NLC. Chairs explained the
history of assessment at NLC and completed a map for program outcomes at NLC.
Chairs led discussion and planning for the program outline plan and assessment strategy.
Set goals for next steps
1. Read assessment plan as drafted and set a deadline for feedback. Determine who is
the “keeper of the plan”.
2. Review unit plans and reports that already exist to see what fits for assessment
3. Assessment Committee – set mission, roles, timelines, and measures of success
Dr. Dickens’ recommendation:
Consider having someone in assessment from ACC or other community colleges that have been successful with SACSCOC as she acknowledged the different constraints on community colleges as opposed to universities with regard to
the overarching assessment process and in particular with state mandated SLOs that she / the universities do not
have to deal with.