Assessment Examples and Resources
There are many approaches to assessment, and approaches developed for one program can be readily adapted for use in other departments or situations. Below are some ideas and practical examples from assessment projects at Harvey Mudd College and from higher education organizations.
Practical Examples of Assessment at Harvey Mudd College
Examples from Harvey Mudd departments and programs
Rubrics, test and exam questions, survey and interview questionnaires and other approaches developed or adapted by Harvey Mudd faculty and staff.
Assessment Resources from Professional Associations
AAC&U VALUE Rubrics
These are rubrics developed by national teams of faculty led by the Association of American Colleges and universities for assessing outcomes that are common across institutions and programs (e.g. critical thinking, oral communication)
AAC&U Assessment website
Helpful publications and examples of assessment practices from a variety of institutions.
National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment
Reports, occasional papers, and examples of practice from an organization working to make learning outcomes useable and transparent to professionals and stakeholders in higher education
NASPA Student Affairs Assessment, Evaluation and Research Knowledge Community
Helpful publications and institutional examples for assessing student learning and development in student affairs divisions
ACPA Commission for Assessment and Evaluation
Resources from the American College Personnel Association to promote assessment skills and knowledge to student learning, development and effective student affairs practice.
Articles, Books and Resources on the Topic of Assessment
Articles
Adelman, C. (2015, February). To Imagine a Verb: The Language and Syntax of Learning Outcomes Statements (Occasional Paper No. 24). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Barr, R. B., and Tagg, J. (2012). From teaching to learning: A new paradigm for undergraduate education Change, 27 (6).
Blaich, C. F., & Wise, K. S. (2011, January). From gathering to using assessment results: Lessons from the Wabash National Study (NILOA Occasional Paper No.8). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Braskamp, L.A, & Engberg, M.E. (2014). Guidelines for judging the effectiveness of assessing student learning. Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL.
Crowley, K. “Making the Most of External Reviews: Part 1” Inside Higher Ed, 1 May 2019, Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2019/05/01/tips-hiring-external-reviewer-framing-self-study-and-designing-review-process
Crowley, K. “Making the Most of External Reviews: Part 2” Inside Higher Ed, 18 June 2019, Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2019/05/01/tips-hiring-external-reviewer-framing-self-study-and-designing-review-process
DeSantis, M. “The Case for Assessment” Inside Higher Ed, 19 July 2018, Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2018/07/19/why-assessment-teaching-vital-opinion
Eubanks, D., & Gliem, D. (2015, May). Improving teaching, learning, and assessment by making evidence of achievement transparent. (Occasional Paper No. 25). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Ewell, P. T. (2009, November). Assessment, accountability, and improvement: Revisiting the tension (NILOA Occasional Paper No.1). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Hutchings, P., Ewell, P., and Banta, T. (2012) AAHE principles of good practice: Aging nicely.
Hutchings, P. (2016, January). Aligning Educational Outcomes and Practices (Occasional Paper No. 26). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Hutchings, P. (2010, April). Opening doors to faculty involvement in assessment (NILOA Occasional Paper No.4). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Ikenberry, S. (2015). Perspective: Three Things Presidents Need to Know about Student Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Lang, J. (2016, January. 11, Chronicle of Higher Education). Small changes in teaching: The first 5 minutes of class [Blog post] Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/article/Small-Changes-in-Teaching-The/234869
Miller, M. A. (2012, January). From denial to acceptance: The stages of assessment (NILOA Occasional Paper No.13). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Miller, W. “A Defense of a Collaborative Approach to Assessment” Inside Higher Ed, 19 July 2018, Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2018/07/19/faculty-should-work-together-improve-assessment-opinion
National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. (2016, May). Higher education quality: Why documenting learning matters (PDF). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, Author.
National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. (2018, March). Mapping Learning: A Toolkit of Resources (PDF). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, Author.
Reed, M. Assessment and the Value of Big, Dumb Questions Inside Higher Ed, 4 October 2015, Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/confessions-community-college-dean/assessment-and-value-big-dumb-questions
Books
Banta, T.W, Jones, E.A., & Black K. E. (2009). Designing effective assessment: Principles and profiles of good practice. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA
Driscoll, A. & Wood, S. (2007). Developing outcomes-based assessment for learner-centered education: A faculty introduction. Stylus, Sterling, VA.
Kuh, G. D., Ikenberry, S. O., Jankowski, N. A., Cain, T. R., Ewell. P. T., Hutchings, P.T., & Kinzie, J. (2015). Using evidence of student learning to improve higher education. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.
Garcia, M., Hudgins, C., Musil, C. M., Nettles, M. T., Sedlacek, W. E., & Smith, D. G. (2001). Assessing campus diversity initiatives: A guide for campus practitioners. Association of American Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC.
Gawande, A. (2007). Better: A surgeon’s notes on performance. Picador, NYC, NY.
Rick Reis. “Planning Effective Assessment.” Tomorrows Professor 1455. Stanford University. eNewsletter. 14 Jan. 2016.
Walvoord, B. E. (2010). Assessment clear and simple: A practical guide for institutions, department, and general education. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA
Turner, J. & Shellard, E. (2004) Developing and Using Instructional Rubrics. Educational Research Service, Arlington, VA.
Blogs
Association of American Colleges and Universities: liberal.education nation (A blog from the LEAP Initiative)
“It features postings and perspectives on “liberal education” – how it is changing, why it is so important in today’s world, and what people are saying about it around the country and the world.”
David Eubanks: Dr. Eubanks, Associate Vice President for Institutional research and Effectiveness at Furman University, regularly posts issues of assessment on his blog.
Pat Williams: Assess this! is a gathering place for information and resources about new and better ways to promote learning in higher education, with a special focus on high-impact educational practices, student engagement, general or liberal education, and assessment of learning.
Listservs
Assess- Assessment in Higher Education from University of Kentucky is a go to place for dialogue about assessment. No login required to search past postings.
Evaluation Talk from the American Evaluation Association requires login information to join this conversation about evaluation and assessment.
POD: Professional and Organization Development Network in Higher Education is a listserv discussing teaching and learning issues as related to faculty development. No login required to read postings.
Student Affairs Assessment Leaders list’s main goal is to provide the opportunity for full-time student affairs assessment professionals to discuss issues to improve their work. The group and its listserv is open only to educators that coordinate assessment for divisions of student affairs.