Assessing Student Learning in Higher Education

Author's Home Page 

Section 1
 Introduction

Section 2
 Background and Rationale for Assessment

Section 3
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Section 4
 Assessment Tools and Data

Section 5
 Course Assessment
 What do you assess?
Guidelines
Assessing Curriculum
 Course SLO Matrix
Assessing Pedagogy
Assessing Prior Knowledge
Assessing Metacognition
Assessing Outcomes
Curriculum Review
Sample Course Assessment Reports

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

 

 

Creating an SLO Course Matrix

In this process each activity or graded item in the course is compared to your SLOs. A simple matrix is constructed. Some faculty have suggested creating this matrix using an F for formative assessments and an S for summative assessments to clarify the purpose of the assessment

5.      Create a matrix of the SLOs and course activities; eliminate those things that don’t support the outcomes

 
Text Box: Assess activities using Primary Trait Analysis (PTA) and create scoring rubrics for course assignments & exams  

Hypothetical Matrix of Course Activities and SLOs
Activity SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4 SLO 5 SLO 6
Quiz 1 F F        
Quiz 2     F F F  
Exam 1 F F F F   F
Exam 2   F        
Final S     S   S
Team Project     S      
Essay            
Oral Report   S        

 

Check the matrix for multiple opportunities for the student to receive formative feedback to improve, as well as variety in the types of assessment. Do you see any problems? Click here to see some potential problems.

Below is a sample Draft Course Matrix. The SLOs in the row across the top are linked to the actual SLO and summative assessment tool.

 

 

Microbiology Course Matrix Identifying Course Learning Outcomes with Course Activities

Assignments

Cell Theory

 

Microbial Interactions

Microbial Control

Microbial Metabolism

Microbial Genetics

Immune Response

Scientific Method Application

Lab Safety
Skills

Appraisal  of info

Exam 1

X

X

 

 

 

 

X

X

 

Exam 2

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

X

X

Exam 3

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Final

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Teams Case Studies

 

X

X

 

 

 

X

 

X

Gram Stain and Isolation Test

X

 

 

X

 

 

X

X

X

Lab   Microscope

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Lab  Culturing

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

X

 

Lab  Staining

X

 

X

X

 

 

 

X

 

Lab  Aseptic Tech

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

X

 

Lab  Survey of Microbes

X

X

 

X

X

 

 

 

X

Lab  Media

X

X

X

X

X

 

X

X

 

Lab  Metabolism

X

 

X

X

X

 

 

X

 

Lab  DNA

X

 

 

X

X

 

 

X

X

Lab  PCR and Genetics

X

 

 

X

X

 

X

X

X

Lab Antiseptics

X

 

X

X

 

 

X

X

X

Lab Disinfectants

X

 

X

 

 

 

X

X

X

Lab Antibiotics

X

 

X

X

X

 

X

X

X

Three D or Pamphlet project

 

X

X

X

X

X

 

 

X

Proceed to Assessing Pedagogy
 

Janet Fulks
Assessing Student Learning in Community Colleges (2004), Bakersfield College
jfulks@bakersfieldcollege.edu    
07/11/2006