Introduction to the VALUE Rubrics Using Authentic Assessment
Introduction to the VALUE Rubrics Using Authentic Assessment to Understand Student Learning Ashley Finley, Ph. D Senior Director of Assessment & Research, AAC&U National Evaluator, Bringing Theory to Practice Kansas State University March 14, 2014
What should a Kansas State University graduate know and be able to do? Bachelor’s Foundational courses Graduate Level
What is a Liberal Education? § Liberal Education: A philosophy of learning that empowers & prepares individuals to deal with complexity, diversity, & change. § Broad knowledge combined w/ in-depth study § To help students develop a sense of social responsibility, strong & transferable intellectual and practical skills & a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge. “Knowledge is nothing without imagination”
The mission of KSU is to foster excellent teaching, research, and service that develop a highly skilled and educated citizenry necessary to advancing the well-being of Kansas, the nation, and the international community. The university embraces diversity, encourages engagement and is committed to the discovery of knowledge…& improvement in the quality of life and standard of living of those we serve. What is the change you promise in students? [KSU] is committed to provide all students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, understanding, & skills characteristic of an educated person. It is also pledged to prepare students for successful employment or advanced studies …To meet these intentions, the institution dedicates itself to providing academic and extracurricular learning experiences which promote and value both excellence and cultural diversity… K-State prepares its students to be informed, productive, & responsible citizens who actively participate in advancing cultural, educational, economic, scientific, and socio-political undertakings.
• Knowledge - Students will demonstrate a depth of knowledge & apply methods of inquiry in a discipline, and will demonstrate breadth of Institutional knowledge across varied disciplines. • Critical Thinking Outcomes - …demonstrate the ability to access and interpret information, respond adapt to changing situations, make complex decisions, solve problems, and evaluate actions. • Communication - …demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively • Diversity - …demonstrate awareness and understanding of the skills necessary • Academic and Professional Integrity - …demonstrate awareness and understanding of the ethical standards of their academic discipline and/or profession to live Gen. Ed. / Major Courses & Experiences • Knowledge The K-State 8 • Content areas • Physical & Natural • Intell. & Pract. Skills Sciences • Inquiry & Analysis • Social Sciences • Critical & Creative Thinking • Written & Oral Comm. • Historical • Reading Perspectives • Quantitative Literacy • Aesthetic Appreciation • Information Literacy • Empirical & Quant. • Teamwork & Prob-solving Reasoning • Personal & Social • Ethical Reasoning & Resp. • Civic Knowledge Responsibility • • Intercultural Knowledge Human Diversity • Ethical Reasoning within the US • Lifelong Learning • Global Issues & • Integrative & Applied Perspectives Learning
THE JOB MARKET CASE FOR BROAD &SHARED LEARNING OUTCOMES… Which is more important for recent college graduates who want to pursue advancement and long-term career success at your company? Having knowledge and skills that apply to a specific field or position Having a range of skills and knowledge that apply to a range of Having Both fields and specific knowledge positions and skills AND a broad range of skills and 0% knowledge 16% 29% 55% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Source: It Takes More Than a Major (AAC&U and Hart Research Assoc. 2013)
300 employers were asked, “How much emphasis should colleges and universities place on the following skills? ” More emphasis The same emphasis Work w #s & Stats Less emphasis 55 35 Conn. choices/actions to ethical dec. 64 27 Teamwk/collab in diverse grps 67 22 Innovation/creativity 71 20 Locate, org. eval Info 72 19 App to real world 78 16 Written/Oral comm 80 12 Analyze/solve complex probs 81 13 Crit thinking/anal reasoning 82 11 0% 10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100% Source: It Takes More Than a Major (AAC&U and Hart Research Assoc. 2013)
“How important is it that employees have the following skills? ” Very important employees have skill Know. of global cultures, histories, values, religions & soc. Systems Fairly important 16 Interest in giving back to communities 39 26 45 Demonstrated capacity for prof dev. & cont. new learning 61 33 Comfortable working w/ people from diverse cultural bkgrds 63 33 Ethical judgment & integrity 76 0% 20% 40% 20 60% 80% 100% Source: It Takes More Than a Major (AAC&U & Hart Research Associates, 2013)
WHAT MATTERS TO STUDENTS…. “I don’t know too many jobs that the job is being well-rounded. You know, it’s not like you’re going to work at ‘Well. Rounded, Inc’ or something. ” - Student (Wisconsin) Transparency. “Tell me why this is important or at least tell me what your end goal is. ‘When you learn this, you’re going to become [a] better adult because blah-blah. ’ Tell me why this matters. ” Student (Wisconsin)
Transparency & Articulation What defines improvement toward expertise? • Demonstrated competence • Across multiple dimensions • Over time
VALUE Rubrics Project: Background & Implications § Rubric Development § Utility § 16 rubrics § Assessment of students’ demonstrated performance § Created primarily by and capacity for teams of faculty improvement § Inter-disciplinary, inter§ Faculty-owned and institutionally shared § Three rounds of testing § Used for students’ selfand revision on assessment of learning campuses with samples of student work § Increase transparency of what matters to institutions § Intended to be modified at for student learning campus-level
VALUE Rubrics (www. aacu. org/value) § Knowledge of Human Cultures & the Physical & Natural Worlds § Content Areas No Rubrics § Intellectual and Practical Skills § Inquiry & Analysis § Critical Thinking § Creative Thinking § Written Communication § Oral Communication § Reading § Quantitative Literacy § Information Literacy § Teamwork § Problem-solving § Personal & Social Responsibility § Civic Knowledge & Engagement § Intercultural Knowledge & Competence § Ethical Reasoning § Foundations & Skills for Lifelong Learning § Global Learning § Integrative & Applied Learning
How have campuses used rubrics to improve learning? § Using the VALUE Rubrics for Improvement of Learning and Authentic Assessment § 12 Case Studies § Frequently asked questions http: //www. aacu. org/value/casestudies/
§Resources: §Me: finley@aacu. org §VALUE Rubrics: http: //www. aacu. org/value/ §Additional Campus Examples: http: //www. aacu. org/peerreview/pr-fa 11 wi 12/
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