Using Assessment of General Education Outcomes to Bring an Out-of-Class Learning-Centered Model to Life Paul A. Dale Vice President, Learning Support Services.

Using Assessment of General Education Outcomes to Bring an Out-of-Class Learning-Centered

Model to Life

Paul A. Dale

Vice President, Learning Support [email protected]

Evaluating Institutional Learning CenterednessJuly 14, 2007

Learning OutcomesAs a result of attending this session, participants will be able to:

Describe the elements of a learning-centered model for student affairs

Recognize the need for out-of-class assessment of general education learning outcomes

Understand assessment in a learning-centered context Understand organizational strategies in implementing

assessment plans in collaboration with faculty and college-wide assessment committees

Demonstrate how assessment findings are utilized for program improvement

National Context and External Drivers

Student Learning Imperative ACPA – 1994 Barr, R. B., Tagg, J. (1995). From teaching to

learning—A new paradigm for undergraduate education. Change November/December.

Principles of Good Practice in Student Affairs (ACPA) Powerful Partnerships: A Shared Responsibility for

Learning (1998, AAHE, NASPA, ACPA) Learning Reconsidered: A Campus-Wide Focus on

the Student Experience (2004, NASPA, ACPA) Learning Reconsidered II Accrediting Agencies—Culture of Evidence

Why Learning-Centeredness?

• Learning occurs throughout the college environment

• Learning involves the whole person

• Learning silos can be broken down

• Active and engaged learners are most likely to be successful

Assessment is “good practice” at all levels within the college

Assessment contributes significantly to the enhancement of learning

Assessment provides responses to two central questions and the evidence to support responses to the questions: What are our students learning? How do we know?

College Assessment Culture

Learning and Assessment Questions

• Do students who use/participate in programs and services provided by student affairs change in ways that professionals intended them to change when they designed the program or service?

• Do these changes contribute in a meaningful way to the institution’s core mission?

• As a result of students participating in ____, they will learn _____.

Learning-Centered and Assessment Model

• Learning-Centered

• Connections Made to Student Persistence Factors

• Indicators of Learning-Centered Practice

• Student Learning and Success Outcomes

Assessment Process• Learning outcomes were identified and made concrete

• Learning outcomes were assessed and used to improve learning and service productivity

• Student affairs policies and procedures were aligned to maximize student learning

• Assessment Team

• Assessment Plan

• Coaching/Consultation

• Reporting

• Faculty Partnerships—General Education Rubrics

Out of Class General Education Outcomes Matrix

Learning Area

Student Life and Leadership CenterStudents will:

Com / Listening

Com / Reading

Com / Speaking

Com / Writing

Info LitProb Solv

Tech

Identify and develop: social, cultural, leadership skills, and values through club participation and leadership training.

X X X X X

Develop civic responsibility, leadership values, and skills with a specific emphasis on leadership for social change.

X X X X X

Out of Class Assessment of General Education Outcomes

Media Services Learning Support Center Student Life and Leadership

Assessment Tools

Student Life—Grading Rubric, Pre/Post Surveys, Oral Presentation Rubric

Media Services—Pre/Post Survey, Presentation Rubric

Learning Support Center—Tutor Observations

LSC Learning Problem Solving Outcomes

• Students will be able to:– Identify opportunities for improvement– Identify strategies for improvement– Implement strategies for improvement

General Education Written Communication Dimensions

• Students will be able to:– Communicate in writing ideas in an organized manner

using appropriate rhetorical strategy;– Communicate in writing ideas logically using

appropriate language (word choice, voice, and tone), supporting materials, and transitions that meet the needs of the audience; and

– Communicate in writing ideas using appropriate grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and format, and within a given word count

What Have We Learned … How Have We Improved?

• Media Services—Collaboration with Computer Commons (Solutions Lab)

• Learning Support Center—Improved tutor training

• Student Life—Development of leadership course

Lessons Learned

• Invest Up-Front Time• Start Small• Determine Top Down or Bottom Up• Allow for Learning About Learning and

Assessment• Reward Best Practices• Every Year Gets Better !

Contact InformationPaul A. DaleVice President, Learning Support ServicesParadise Valley Community College18401 North 32nd StreetPhoenix, AZ 85032(602) 787-6603 ● (602) 787-6625 [email protected]://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lss/outcomes.htmlhttp://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lss/index.php