Three PVCC Assessment Projects: Good Ideas For You A learning Week Presentation of the Academic Asse

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Three PVCC Assessment Projects  Good Ideas For
YouA learning Week Presentation of the
Academic Assessment TeamJanuary 14, 2004

• Lori Anonsen
• Dan Donahue
• Beth Newman

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What is Assessment?

•   Assessment is a systematic process
  for gathering information about student learning
  it answers the question, How do we know what
  students are learning, and how well they are
  learning it?
• --Califormia State Long Beach http//www.csulb.edu
  /7Esenate/assessment/assessment_glossary.htmlpro
  cess

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Evaluation vs. Assessment

• Purpose primarily Formative.

• Purpose primarily Summative.

• Focus on group performance.

• Focus on individual performance.

• Helps instructors/ dept/ school know how they and
  students performed.

• Helps individuals know how they performed.

• Results in a plan for improvement.

• Results in a grade for the activity or course.

• Always used for improvement of instruction/
  learning.

• May or may not be used for improvement of
  instruction/ learning.

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Why do Assessment?

• Because good classroom and college-wide
  assessment improves student learning.
• Is any other reason necessary?

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More specifically,

• Continuous assessment fosters the continuous
  improvement of students , departments, divisions,
  and the college as a whole.
• It is NOT just for accreditation.
• Assessment is a process that documents success,
  makes good things better, and improves upon
  weaknesses.

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Underlying Assumptions

• Assessment of student learning is a cornerstone
  of PVCCs mission to become a more learning
  centered college.
• It is a shared responsibility of the faculty,
  staff and administration.
• The purpose of assessment is to improve teaching
  and learning it is not evaluative of faculty.

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PVCC Gen. Ed. Learning Outcomes
(Core Outcome Critical Thinking)

• Communication
• Listening
• Reading
• Speaking
• Writing

• Information Literacy
• Problem Solving
• Technology

The details are at http//www.pvc.maricopa.edu/AI
/outcomes.html
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The PVCC Assessment InitiativeWhat can you do?

• Contact your division chair/academic supervisor
  to find out what assessment initiatives are
  occurring in your content area/course.
• Determine if you can/should participate, or if
  you should initiate your own assessment activity.

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The PVCC Assessment InitiativeWhat can you do?

• Browse the PVCC Assessment website
  (http//www.pvc.maricopa.edu/AI) and become
  familiar with
• PVCC Learning Outcomes
• Methods and resources for assessment projects
• Writing Good Outcome Statements.
• Recommended Process for an Individual Assessment
  Project.

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Academic Assessment Team, 2003-2004

• Bob Bendotti Dean of Learning
• Larry Burgess Faculty, Math Div. Chair
• Tom Butler Faculty, English/Reading, AAT chair
• Marilyn Cristiano Com/Hum Div. Chair
• Dan Donahue Faculty, Health and Wellness
• Jane Marks, Faculty Science
• Paul Marsh Director of Institutional Research
• Patri Mays Faculty, Business IT
• Beth Newman Faculty, Business IT
• Rick Vaughn Faculty, Math
• Fred Wieck, Counseling PD
• Shelle Witten Library Div. Chair