ERIC Number: ED594956
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2155-7535
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Needle in a Haystack: Finding Learning Improvement in Assessment Reports. Professional File. Article 141, Summer 2017
Fulcher, Keston H.; Smith, Kristen L.; Sanchez, Elizabeth R. H.; Sanders, Courtney B.
Association for Institutional Research
Higher education insiders trumpet the use of results for improvement as the most important part of the assessment cycle. Yet, at the same time, we acknowledge the rarity of improvement, especially at a program level. What are some reasons the most important phase of assessment occurs so infrequently? To seek answers, we investigated the "Use of Results" sections in 54 program-level assessment reports. In some respects, our findings were positive. On average, programs reported making approximately three curricular or pedagogical changes annually. A closer inspection, however, revealed concerns: (1) the curricular or pedagogical changes were not explicitly linked to learning outcomes, (2) programs rarely reported making changes that affect several classes, (3) many of the reported changes were unclear, (4) and few programs reassessed to determine if changes actually led to learning improvement. Our research concludes by providing suggestions for how programs can more effectively use results to inform changes, reassess students to determine if changes led to learning improvement, and report on improvement processes. [For the other three articles in the Summer 2017 issue, see ED594959, ED594960, and ED594958.]
Descriptors: Information Utilization, Higher Education, Program Evaluation, Program Improvement, Curriculum Development, Outcomes of Education, Educational Improvement, Educational Assessment, Reports
Association for Institutional Research. 1435 East Piedmont Drive Suite 211, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Tel: 850-385-4155; Fax: 850-383-5180; e-mail: air@airweb.org; Web site: http://www.airweb.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Association for Institutional Research (AIR)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A