Student Learning Outcome Assessment at the Program Level

Student Learning Outcome Assessment at the Program Level: Process and Strategies Sacramento City College Curriculum Development-Workshop September 20, 2005 Facilitator: Alan Keys, Faculty Research Coordinator, SCC – keysa@scc. losrios. edu, ext. 2941.

What is a Student Learning Outcome? Student learning outcomes can be categorized in terms of… What students should know, and/or What they are able to do …when they have completed a course, PROGRAM, student service intervention, certificate, or degree.

“Plan – Do – Review” Model of SLO Assessment

Why engage in assessment of SLOs at the program level? TO… n n n Clarify program learning objectives/outcomes for students and faculty Provide specific insight on student achievement in the cognitive, affective and skill domains Enhance alignment of program design and learning outcomes n Facilitate collaboration that improves teaching and learning n Inform curricular development at course and program level

Program Outcome Development Process: Step 1: Who Cares? n Identify stakeholders in program outcome development: n Internal – n External – n Select key representatives from stakeholder groups n Recruit collaborators

Program Outcome Development Process: Step 2: Steal the Wheel n Identify preexisting sources for outcomes n External sources Do they have stated expectations for your program grads? n n n Can they provide input on desired outcomes? Internal sources n Program goals n GE requirements, College Mission n Other LRCCD programs

Activity 1: What do external sources want your program grads to know or be able to do? 1. 2. 3. 4. ________________________________ __ ________________________________ _ _______________

Activity 1 (cont. ): What do internal sources indicate your program grads should know or be able to do? 1. 2. 3. 4. ________________________________ __ ________________________________ _ ________________

Program Outcome Development Process: Step 3: Compile, prioritize, and write PLOs 1. 2. 3. 4. _________________________________ __________________________________

Program Outcome Development Process: Step 4: Review Course Outcomes Identify and/or categorize core and elective courses for program n Review course outcomes and enhance/refine, if needed. n Engage in collaborative content review to align courses with program outcomes(Activity #2) n n Check articulation issues

Activity 2: SLO to PLO Alignment Matrix Course 1 Course 2 Course 3 PLO 1 PLO 2 PLO 3 I=Introduced; E=Emphasized R=Reinforced Course 4 Course 5

Key Considerations for Program Learning Outcome Development Whenever possible… n n Identify and/or create direct measures of assessment. Encourage use of multiple measures of assessment (exams, papers, projects, peer -assessment) n Design course/program-embedded measures. n Determine how outcomes will be integrated with course/program assessment. n Examine other factors that may influence student's achievement of stated objective and assess the impact that these may have on your measures.

Close the Loop n Use SLO assessment results to inform curriculum design n Make it formative and focused on improvement n Share insights and collaborate n Accept that assessment is ongoing

Selected Web Resources n California Assessment Institute / RP Group http: //cai. cc. ca. us/ n CSU, Sacramento Learning Outcomes Project http: //www. calstate. edu/Acad. Aff/SLOA

SLO to PLO Alignment Matrix Course Course 1 2 3 4 5 PLOs I=Introduced; E=Emphasized R=Reinforced