Student Learning
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 Student Learning
   Committee

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Assessment Tools and Methods

Capstone Experiences
The purpose of capstone experiences are courses, programs, or activities designed to facilitate a student's transition to another stage of their educational journey and provide the opportunity for reflection on what they have learned.
Example: Portland State University

Classroom Assessment Techniques
The main purpose of classroom assessment is to improve learning already in progress by providing teachers with the kind of feedback they need to continuously improve teaching and provide feedback to students. Classroom assessment, thus, is made up of small-scale assessment techniques that are brief, but clear and measurable.
Resource: Southern Illinois University CATs
Examples: Illinois State University Assessment Office
Example: The Minute Paper
Example: The Muddiest Point
Example: Moraine Valley Community College

Distance Learning Assessment
Example: Project ADEPT (University of Wisconsin)

Grades and Assessment
Using grades to evaluate student learning is problematic. First, they are relative in that they only measure student performance in relation to others. Second, grades are normative in that they only measure student performance at a certain point in time. Finally, it should also go without saying that grades can be subjective. However, when tied to course goals and objectives, grades can be useful.
Example: Why Aren't Course Grades Good Enough? (California State University)
Example: Effective Grading at the University of Southern Georgia (.pdf)
Example: Comparisons in Using Grades and Assessment at Southern Illinois University

Portfolios
Portfolios are a type of performance assessment in which students' work is systematically collected and carefully reviewed for evidence of learning and development.
Examples: AAHE Portfolio Clearinghouse
Example: Electronic Portfolio Examples
Example: Truman State University Portfolio Project

Program Assessment
The purpose of assessment is to understand how educational programs are working and to determine whether they are contributing to student growth and development. Hence, the ultimate emphasis of assessment is on programs rather than students. Program assessment helps determine whether students can integrate learning from individual courses into a coherent whole (from Assessment Essentials: Planning, Implementing, and Improving Assessment in Higher Education)
Examples: Illinois State University
Example: Moraine Valley Community College
Example: Comparison between Classroom Assessment and Program Assessment

Rubrics
Rubrics act as a guidelines or benchmarks at different levels of performance over time. As the instructor, you define what students need to do to attain a certain level of competency and measure student performance against it. Example: Schools of California
Example: Create a Rubric from Scratch
Examples: Bowling Green University
Examples: On-line Rubric Generators