Assessing Student Learning in Higher Education
Introduction
Section 2
Background and Rationale for Assessment
Section 3
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Section 4
Assessment Tools and Data
Quality Data
Defining Terms
Assessment Tools
Grades & Assessment
Primary
Trait Analysis
Rubrics
Selecting the Tools
Creating a Tool
Quiz
Your SLOs
Section 5
Course Assessment
Section
6
Program Assessment
Section
7
Closing the Loop
Section
8
Implementing Assessment Training on
Campus
Section
9
References & Resources
Definitions
Workbook
Using Materials from
this Website
Primary Trait Analysis
Definition: Primary Trait Analysis (PTA) is the process of identifying major traits or characteristics that are expected in student work. After the primary traits are identified, specific criteria with performance standards, are defined for each trait.
Below is an example that incorporates a general education outcome (oral communication) within a science specific course-embedded assessment. The assignment is an oral report on a current controversial biological topic. Rather than intuitively grading the oral report specific traits or characteristics are identified.
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Student Assignment Prepare a 7 minute oral report on one of the controversial biological topics listed in the syllabus. |
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Identify Primary Traits In this step the major traits or attributes representing best practices are identified.
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Give an Oral Report on Genetic Engineering
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Ø Thesis Ø Content Ø Organization Ø Sources Ø Delivery |
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Identify Criteria for Performance In this step the criteria which determine how well the student does each trait are innumerated. |
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Thesis
Content Ø Subject knowledge Ø Alternative opinions Ø Currency of data Ø Scientific sophistication Organization Ø Attention grabber Ø Supporting arguments Ø Conclusion Sources
Delivery
Ø Timing |
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Example of Primary Trait Analysis for
an Oral Report in a Science Course |
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In the next step (building a rubric) the criteria are weighted for value or points and sometimes defined more specifically. In a science course the content and sources will be more important than the delivery. If this were a speech class, the criteria might be valued very differently. |
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The traits and criteria are used to determine a scoring rubric or check list. |
The primary traits and performance standards should be discussed with other faculty to obtain feedback. Faculty from other disciplines often provide excellent feedback. Healthy discussion validates and clarifies your thinking.
The next step is to develop a rubric used to score the student performance. A rubric is a grading tool used to assign points or values for meeting performance criteria. The rubric will be given to the student when the assignment is announced.
Resources and Links
Primary Trait Analysis: Anchoring Assessment in the Classroom Benander, Denton, Page, & Skinner, 2000
Creating Graded Assignments as Embedded Tools
Walvoord and
Anderson, 1998
Janet Fulks
Assessing Student Learning in Community Colleges (2004), Bakersfield
College
jfulks@bakersfieldcollege.edu
07/11/2006