What are the characteristics of a good assessment plan?
Although assessment methods vary across disciplines, there are some steps that apply regardless of the context:
- setting learning goals
- finding out what you already know about student learning in your program
- gathering multiple kinds of evidence to answer questions you have about students’ progress in learning
- analyzing and interpreting the findings
- using the findings to celebrate strengths
- using the findings to inform changes such as
- making adjustments to your curriculum or program
- changing teaching/learning methodologies
- re-directing use of resources, including budget allocations.
Good assessment practices are manageable, meaningful, and integrated into daily teaching and learning practices. In many ways, assessment is analogous to a research project, where the object of study is student learning. The methods vary according to one’s discipline; the kinds of evidence used need to make sense with one’s field.