Sane Core Assessment

Goals for this Workshop

• Clarify the purpose of core assessment• Orient faculty to the assessment plan• Orient faculty to the new rubrics• Guide revision or design of assignments for

core assessment

Purpose Process Rubric Adaptation

Purpose of Core Assessment

• To assess a population’s progress on core objectives

• (Not to assess an instructor)

Purpose Process Rubric Adaptation

Limits to Interpretation

• We can’t really use core assessment to evaluate faculty

Limits to Interpretation, pt. 2

• Factors influencing limits to interpretation– No. of students assessed (N)– No. of faculty drawn from (all vs some)– No. of students assessed per section– Who rates student work • Of-record vs blinded

– The “elastic” ruler– Where the tougher graders are

• Single vs multiple

Best Interpretation

• “How well are students at TWU performing on core objectives?”

Result: The Assessment Plan

• Students identified after Census• Limited core faculty responsibilities:– Conduct core-aligned assignments– Pull student artifacts– Attach cover sheet, prompts, etc.– Submit by end of term

• Rating by trained rater pool

Purpose Process Rubric Adaptation

Rationale

• Fairness to faculty• Better data = Safer data• Volunteer raters > press-ganged

Spring’s Pilot

• Test-run• We expect problems• “Assessing the assessment”

How Sampling Will Work

Orientation to the Rubrics

Purpose Process Rubric Adaptation

Adapting without Losing Sanity

• Current assignments & assessments may work• 1 task can cover 2 (or 4!) objectives• Doesn’t have to be a paper• Doesn’t have to be graded• You only need 4 criteria / rubric• You can add new criteria

Purpose Process Rubric Adaptation

Rubric Screenshot 2

Where to Access Rubrics

http://www.twu.edu/undergraduate-studies/core-curriculum.asp

Sample Assignment Walk-Through

Sample Assignment Walk-Through

Sample Assignment Walk-Through

An Alverno Model

An efficient, faculty-built learning experience that can capture evidence of virtually all objectives, including Teamwork and Personal Responsibility.

An Alverno Model: The Sequence

Overlapping Task

MaterialsSolo Prep Oral

Negotiations

An Alverno Model: The Negotiation

Issue

Discussant 1

Discussant 2

Discussant 3

Discussant 4