The document summarizes a meeting to develop learning outcomes for academic programs and courses at a community college. Faculty were instructed to draft 3-5 learning outcomes for every program and course by the end of the meeting. Examples of other colleges that list learning outcomes were provided. Next steps include gathering faculty input on the draft outcomes and developing assessment plans to implement the outcomes.

1. Assessment Institute: Day Two Middlesex County College Christine Harrington Ph.D. August 2008

2. A Brief Review The Assessment Process Learning Outcomes Writing or Finding Learning Outcomes for All Academic Majors and Active Courses

3. Defining Learning Outcomes A learning outcome is a specific statement that clearly identifies what knowledge, skills and attitudes you expect from graduates of your program, students completing your course, or participating in your service.

4. Why Are We Doing This? Keeps us focused on what we want to accomplish in our courses and programs! Learning Outcomes are an important, necessary foundational step in assessment. Learning outcomes will be published in the college catalog and on the infonet.

5. The Assessment Working Group Our role is to provide: Support, guidance and support Our role is not to give “stamps of approval” be “keeper of all documents”

6. Keeping Focus: By the end of the day…. 3-5 learning outcomes for every academic major in your department 3-5 learning outcomes for every active course Remember, these are only working documents that will be brought to entire faculty on 8/26/08 for consideration and input

7. Learning Outcome Template for Program, Course or Service

8. Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the program/course/service, students will be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

9. Local community colleges with learning outcomes listed for programs and/or courses: Mercer County Community College In catalog, you’ll find program learning outcomes and some are also found in course outlines. www.mccc.edu Brookdale Community College Learning outcomes can be found in the catalog. www.brookdalecc.edu Raritan Valley Community College Learning outcomes are listed in the college catalog. www.raritanval.edu

10. Other websites with useful information on assessment Bridgewater State College Simple, straightforward information on creating learning outcomes and course mapping. http://www.bridgew.edu/AssessmentGuidebook/chapter4.cfm Bakersfield College Simple step by step process of creating learning outcomes and the assessment process. http://online.bakersfieldcollege.edu/courseassessment/Section_3_SLOs/Section3_1.htm Fresno City College Student Learning Outcome handbook- Bloom’s taxonomy clearly demonstrated. http://online.fresnocitycollege.edu/senate/curriculum/slo.html#what Modesto Junior College Clear outline of steps in assessment process. http:// www.mjc.edu/slo/big_picture.htm University of Washington http:// depts.washington.edu/grading/slo/index.html NC State University Very comprehensive website, even a bit overwhelming. As a start, click on Assessment of specific skills or content. Here you will find some information by discipline that may be helpful. http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/assmt/resource.htm#msache Association of American Colleges and Universities Comprehensive website on assessment in higher education. http://www.aacu.org/resources/assessment/index.cfm

11. Now What Do I Need To Do? Tell me how you want to divide faculty by tables on Faculty Development Day Let me know what additional support you need for Tuesday Bring a laptop on Tuesday for data input purposes

12. Now What Do I Need To Do? Prepare copies of the following documents for every faculty member in your department for Tuesday morning: Bloom’s taxonomy action verbs – 3 pages Working Documents of All Academic Major Learning Outcomes Working Documents of All Active Courses Learning Outcomes

13. Then What? Faculty Development Day- faculty voice in learning outcome development All academic major and course learning outcomes uploaded to the assessment page next week Assessment plans need to be developed and implemented

14. Importance of Faculty Support: What Can I Do? Model a positive attitude about assessment Continually emphasize that assessment is NOT faculty evaluation Keep assessment simple, yet meaningful Keep assessment visible- keep it on the agenda for department meetings Provide support for assessment whenever possible

15. Thank you for your support and hard work during this assessment institute! Next Steps: Faculty Input and Developing Assessment Plans