General Education Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Method Possibilities at
Gavilan Community College
Common Department Finals
Gavilan’s pre-transfer level English class has a common final essay. A random sample of these
essays could be reviewed against the GE outcomes. Other departments may also create common
finals for key classes that could also be sampled for GE outcome assessment.
Embedded Assessment
Certain in-class assignments used for grading individuals can be randomly sampled across many
departments and collectively reviewed again the GE outcomes.
Surveys and Focus Groups
The college can survey and interview current students and graduates to collect their self-reported
skills gains in the GE areas and the contribution of both instructional and student service efforts
to these skills gains. These qualitative approaches can also indicate synergistic effects between
instructional and student service activities that might otherwise be difficult to detect.
Database Tracking
Some outcomes may be reflected in database tracked information.
Portfolios
Collections of student work representing the culmination and/or progression of their skill
development in specific programs can be sampled across the institution.
Standardized Assessment
Some companies have created standardized student learning outcome tests. Such tests are
typically designed to be administered to a random selection of students annually. These
companies often indicate that results from your college can be compared to similar institutions
who also participate. Alternatively, a college may locally develop their own standardized tests.
This list is not exhaustive but does show some of the most commonly used assessment
methods. Ideally, the college will use multiple assessment methods to create a convergent suite
of evidence demonstrating student learning. Assessment will also be longitudinal in nature so
that trends over time can be noted and acted upon. For each of the assessments utilized, the
college will have to decide how to rate student work samples against the GE outcomes such as
scoring work against a rubric. College personnel would rate work samples on a scale indicating
the degree of competence shown for each GE outcome appropriate for the work sample.
Prepared by
Terrence Willett
Director of Research
Gavilan Community College
April 7, 2005