After a decade of Student Learning Outcome (SLO) assessment, is higher education more effective? Is there a difference? Are there studies that suggest that these modifications through continuous assessment have resulting in a significant shift in the learning paradigms?
Outcomes Assessment (OA) is the process of collecting information that will tell an organization whether the services, activities, or experiences it offers are having the desired impact on those who partake in them. In other words, is the organization making a difference in the lives of the individuals it serves?
In higher education, at its simplest, Outcomes Assessment has three stages:
1. Defining the most important goals for students to achieve as a result of participating in an academic experience (outcomes)
2. Evaluating how well students are actually achieving those goals (assessment)
3. Using the results to improve the academic experience (closing the loop)
One of the great advantages of Outcomes Assessment is that when done in a systematic way, it benefits people throughout the institution, from our students to the faculty to the administration.
For students, Outcomes Assessment will:
communicate clear expectations about what’s important in a course or program
inform them that they will be evaluated in a consistent and transparent way
reassure them that there is common core content across all sections of a course,
certificate, and degree programs
allow them to make better decisions about programs based on outcomes results
For faculty, participating in Outcomes Assessment will:
help them determine what's working and what's not working in their courses or
programs
facilitate valuable interdisciplinary and intercampus discussions
provide powerful evidence to justify needed resources to maintain or improve programs
allow them to tell their story to individuals outside their area (e.g. administrators,
politicians, employers, prospective students, transfer institutions)
provide reassurance that all faculty teaching a particular high demand course agree to address certain core content
For administrators, implementing college-wide Outcomes Assessment will:
demonstrate an institutional commitment to continually improving the academic
programs and services offered by the College
provide valuable data to support requests for funds from state and local government and private donors
demonstrate accountability to funding sources
provide valuable data for academic planning and decision-making
enable them to inform elected officials, local businesses, and potential donors about the college's impact on our students and our community in a very compelling and convincing way
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