SLO Assessment
Departmental Tools and Examples from the Field
Sacramento City College
Fall Flex Workshop
8/21/08
Presenters:
Alan Keys
Faculty Research Coordinator, Professor of Psych.
&
Department faculty from History, PE, …??
WLOs
(Workshop Learning Outcomes)
After this workshop you should be able to..
Describe what an SLO is and the benefits of
engaging in SLO assessment efforts
 Discriminate Direct and Indirect measures of
SLOs
 Align course/unit SLOs with existing & new
assessment methods
 Develop a departmental SLO assessment plan

What are Student Learning Outcomes?
Student learning outcomes can be
categorized in terms of…
What students should know or be able
to do
…when they have completed a course,
program, student service
intervention, certificate, or degree.
Types of “assessment”

Input - Preparedness issues
Basic Skills; Course placement; Pre-req Skills

Dynamic Classroom Assessment - Formative
teaching tools
"On-the-fly" feedback techniques to adjust and modify
course/program as it progresses.

Institutional Effectiveness - Mainly summative
Measures of student success & institutional mission.

Student Learning Outcome Assessment Summative & formative
Systematic assessment of measurable learning outcomes
Benefits of SLO Assessment
Insights
Improvement
Course and Program Modifications Curriculum, program design, delivery
methods, offerings, scheduling, etc…
Increased Student Success
Direct & Indirect Measures of Learning
Direct
 Locally developed exams
 Quizzes
 Essays
 Written projects
 Oral presentations
 Performances
 Exhibitions
 Lab reports
 Group projects
 Direct observation
 Standardized tests
 Licensure Exams
 Capstone Projects
Indirect
 Student surveys
 Interviews
 Student journal
 Employer surveys
 Focus Groups
 Retention rates
 Persistence rates
 Transfer rates
 Degree & Certificate
rates
 Job placement
 Teaching portfolios
Implementing SLO assessment
How do we select the appropriate
assessment tool(s) for our particular course
SLOs?
1.
Align existing assessments with course
SLOs
2.
Select/create assessment tools that
specifically assess course SLOs
Align course-embedded Assessments
with Course SLOs
Assessment
Assessment
Assessment
Grade
for Outcome 1 for Outcome 2 for Outcome 3
A
C
B
F
Student 1
Student 2
Student 3
Student 4
Outcome
assessment
Poor
Change
methods
Moderat
e
Change
methods ??
Good
Hurray!
Keep methods
Assessing for a grade versus assessing outcomes (Modified
from CRC, Buechner, )
Departmental SLO Assessment Plan
Three parts of Department SLO Plan
1. Department SLO Assessment Plan Overview


2.
Course SLO Assessments

3.
State assessment focus (course or program)
Indicate who will lead assessment and when
Identify priority SLOs to assess, associated
assignments, and assessment methods
SLO Outcome review


Summarize results
Discuss implications, possible changes, follow-up
Steps in SLO Assessment
Development

Utilize the “Steps” handout and SLO
planning templates to…





Select course(s) for future assessments
Prioritize SLOs
Align SLOs, assignments/activities, &
assessments
Discuss possible assessment methods &
instruments
Conduct assessments
Departmental SLO Assessment Plan
Department:
Academic Year:
Program or sub-discipline (if applicable):
Assessment Focus
Course_____
Program ______
Course Level
Course(s) that will be assessed
Term
Faculty Responsible for Assessment
Term
Faculty Responsible for Assessment
1
2
3
4
5
Program Level
Program(s) (Degrees and/or Certificates)
1
2
3
4
Course Assessments
Department:
Program or sub-discipline (if applicable):
Course:
Section(s):
Assessment Plan
Priority SLO(s) to Assess
Assignment / Activity to Assess
(from Socrates)
(Quiz, Exam, Report, Project, Paper)
1.
2.
3.
Assessment Method or Instrument
to apply to assessment (Rubric,
embedded measure, “add-on”)
Term
SLO Outcome Review
Summary of Assessment Results for Course: _______________________
SLO 1.
SLO 2.
SLO 3
Departmental Review of Results and Plans for Follow-up (Discussion, Implications, Student impact, Curricular changes,
Future Assessments, Assessment Method Modifications)
SLO 1.
SLO 2.
Closing the Loop:
Putting SLO Ideas into Action!

Class and course level






Develop assessments aligned with specific SLOs
Use direct & indirect assessments
Use course-embedded &/or add-on methods
Engage in intra- and interdepartmental collaboration
Modify curriculum, teaching techniques & document via
Socrates
Program level


Utilize SLO review in program planning and design
Incorporate into unit plans, educational master plan,
program review, division plans
Closing the Loop:
Putting SLO Ideas into Action!
Overall good practices for SLO Assessment
 Sample, sample, sample
 Utilize multiple measures
 Dialogue, collaborate, & document
 Stay focused on Student Learning!
For more information on SCC SLO efforts and resources for all levels of SLO
development and assessment, visit http://web.scc.losrios.edu/slo