Improving Assessment
Opportunities to learn more about using and improving outcomes assessment in your department
- Fall 2011: Examining Student Learning and Engagement at UI
- Innovation Grants for Fall 2011 (pdf)
- Assessment Consultation
Fall 2011: Examining Student Learning and Engagement at UI
During 2010/11, UI began piloting a Senior Exit Survey, and both freshmen and seniors were invited to participate in the National Study of Student Engagement (NSSE). This session will provide an opportunity to begin examining what students are saying about their undergraduate experience at UI. For example,
- "I'm challenged in my coursework every day, all the while knowing that my professors and TAs are on my side."
- "Some professors don't realize that things that come naturally to them are not so straightforward for the students."
Join us to take a closer look at these and other student responses to the UI Senior Exit Survey and NSSE. Session participants will be invited to sort through data and discuss implications for UI faculty, staff, and administration.
Assessment Innovation Grants for Fall 2011
Departments are invited to apply for Assessment Innovation Grants of up to $5000 to support the development of creative, practical strategies that they can use to assess how well the department is preparing students to apply their knowledge and skills in new settings and situations.
Academic departments often identify out-of-class learning outcomes for their programs such as independent problem-solving, engaged citizenship, or lifelong learning. While many strategies are readily available for assessing how well students retain the content taught in classes, this grant will support development of strategies for systematically examining student preparation to apply and extend their learning beyond the classroom.
To apply for a grant for your department, briefly describe:
- The specific learning outcome you plan to assess
- How your department currently supports learning related to this outcome
- How grant funds will be used to develop and pilot an assessment strategy related to this outcome, including a proposed budget and timeline
- How you will determine the usefulness of the assessment strategy that you pilot
Priority will be given to proposals that address how their strategies can be replicated on an ongoing basis and can be applied in other departments that share similar goals. Grant recipients will be asked to summarize lessons learned from the project at a future campus event or on the Iowa Outcomes Assessment web site.
Proposals should be submitted to outcomes@uiowa.edu. Priority will be given to proposals received by September 30, 2011. If you would like to discuss ideas for a proposal, or if you have other questions about the Assessment Innovation Grants, please contact Wayne Jacobson.
To see examples of projects undertaken by last year's Grant recipients, see Learning from Assessment.
Assessment Consultation
Consultations can be scheduled to discuss your questions related to planning and implementing outcomes assessment in your department. Contact 335-6101 or outcomes@uiowa.edu to schedule a consultation.
Previous Workshops and Events
Session handouts from previous assessment-related workshops and events