Outcomes Assessment Terminology
A hallmark, program level outcome that faculty intend students to get from several courses and/or key educational experiences.
A program level outcome restated in measureable or observable terms. An indicator used to measure student mastery of a skill or concept.
The actual instrument used to collect assessment data, such as a test, assignment, or performance.
The place, environment, or venue within which an assessment takes place, such as a capstone course, senior seminar, or internship workplace.
The data that comes from the running of the assessment tool. The analyses are the observation of the data collected, as well as a proposition of why students performed as they did.
The stated changes or adjustments that faculty/staff plan to implement based on assessment results and overall, general analyses.
Assessment that involves the observation of first-hand student artifacts, performance, or knowledge, such as performance, test results, or rubric scoring of student work.
Assessment that involves the observation of student and others’ reports about student learning, such as on a survey or a focus group.
A single iteration of assessment, usually an academic year beginning in the fall and culminating at the end of spring.
A grid or table that presents the all the basic elements of the program assessment process from the stated intended student outcomes through the action plans for the following assessment cycle.