The document outlines draft guidelines for establishing an assessment methods database. It discusses important questions around the scope and focus of the database before establishing criteria. The guidelines propose a two-phase approach: Phase One would collect degree/program level assessment methods and include details like learning outcomes, assessment elements, rubrics and a SWOT analysis. Phase Two would collect course-level methods from various disciplines, focusing on assisting faculty development of assessment tools for their classrooms. Submitted methods would include assignment details, assessment explanations, metrics and alignment with general education competencies. The goal is to share effective practices across institutions.

1. Draft Guidelines for Establishing an Assessment Methods Database
Important Questions before establishing criteria
Are we considering a database for assessment methods or for assignment used in the disciplines
that feed assessment methods?
Are we considering a database for degree/program level assessment methods or for course level
assessment methods?
Are we considering a database for FYE courses? (Create a Commonwealth-wide common
experience for First Year students?)
Should the database reflect the institutional level (2-year or 4-year institutions)?
Should the database reflect the core Gen Ed competency in each of the AMCOA member
institutions? Should the database reflect an alignment of Core Gen Ed competency among the
member institutions?
Phase One Database Collection: Degree/Program Outcomes Assessment Methods
General Criteria:
AMCOA member institutions should provide degree/program level assessment methods to the
coordinator of the Assessment Methods database.
The information/criteria on the Outcomes Assessment Method provided should include the
following:
Title of the degree/program
List of course in the degree/program
Degree/Program Learning Outcomes
Elements of each institutions assessment of the successful completion of the
Degree/Program Learning Outcomes
Types of metrics utilized to assess the outcome
Rubrics used (if any)
SWOT analysis of the Learning Outcomes for the degree/program
Strength of the assessment method used in a specific degree/program
Self-explanatory but essential to identify the strengths so that other institutions
might be able to adapt it effectively to their needs
Weakness of the assessment method used in a specific degree/program
Essential for both the submitting institution and for other member institutions

2. Opportunities presented by the assessment method used in a specific
degree/program
In assessing both the strength and weaknesses of an assessment method,
institutions can identify were outcomes assessment needs to be strengthened.
Threats presented by the assessment method used in a specific degree/program
Questions posed by a particular assessment method can include such points as
the following: (1) does the assessment method accurately reflect the
degree/program outcome; (2) does the method used communicate the invalid or
inauthentic information concerning the degree/program outcomes assessment
method?
The alignment of the Outcomes Assessment method with the General Education
Core Competencies of the member institution
Phase Two Database Collection: Course-level Outcomes Assessment Methods
General Criteria:
AMCOA member institutions should submit discipline-specific course level outcomes assessment
methods to the database for inclusion.
Important Note: Phase Two of the Database Collection is directed more at assisting faculty in the
various discipline were the process of developing outcomes assessment tools and methods within
their own classrooms.
The information/criteria on the Outcomes Assessment Method provided should include the
following:
Institution
Discipline (for example, Mathematics)
Name of the course (do not use institution-level numeric designations)
Assignment for which the Outcomes Assessment Method was designed (redact all
identifying information)
o Assignment for which the Outcomes Assessment Method was designed
should include the following information:
 Type of Assessment: summative (designed to provide a
numerical grade) or formative (designed to provide an
assessment of the level of student competency
 Principles included in the assignment: Reliability, Validity,
Relevance, Transferability, Accuracy, Currency, Depth, Originality,
Succinctness
Explanation of the Outcomes Assessment Method (include any metrics, rubrics or
other tools)
Provide a definition for all elements of the OA method

3. SWOT analysis (in other words, describe the results of the Outcomes
Assessment method focused on a specific discipline and course).
The alignment of the course Learning Outcomes with the General Education Core
Competencies
Assessment Methods submitted to the Database should have the following
elements: