Reporting & Using Assessment Results
Assessment results are meant to improve teaching and learning as well as inform planning and decision making. Results of assessment activities can highlight successes such as:
- better alignment of the curriculum with desired outcomes;
- creation of useful rubrics;
- development of explicit standards and corresponding samples of student work;
- evidence that students are meeting or exceeding learning expectations.
Elements to include in an Assessment Report
| Things to consider | |
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Is this a department/course level or general education assessment? |
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Was this a pilot or department wide assessment?Was the data collected in Fall or Spring semester or over the course of the academic year? |
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Who submitted dataHow many students were used?How were they selected? |
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Describe the scoring mechanism, rubric, dichotomous responses, scaled responses.Who did the scoring? |
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Was the assessment instrument piloted?Were there any confounding events? This could be a snow day on the day of an exam, or a replacement faculty member due to illness. |
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Include charts and graphs to help visual the data. |
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Did student performance meet, exceed or fall short of expectations of the faculty? |
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Curriculum related changes could include:Changes in pedagogy or sequencing/reinforcement of materialsChange in textbookRevised course materialsRevision in course sequence |
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What worked well in the assessment process?What changes might make it more effective?Given the assessment experience/data, should you consider:Changing the criteria for success?Modify expectations?Revise data collection?Revise assessment method?Change the timeline?Collect and analyze additional data? |
Tips for Using Assessment Results
- Present the results in several ways: face-to-face meeting, written report, workshop format in which the report serves as the springboard for brainstorming possible next steps.
- Engage the program faculty members in discussions about the results and how they might be used. Questions like these can start the conversation:
- Do the results live up to our expectations?
- Are our expectations appropriate? Should expectations be changed?
- What were the most effective tool(s) to assess student learning?
- Once there is consensus on the action(s) to be taken, create an action plan that describes the actions the program will take, who will take those actions, and the timeline for implementing actions.
- Monitor changes as they are implemented to determine whether they have the desired effect(s).
- Keep in mind that even negative results can have a positive effect when they are used to improve student learning.
- Finally, make sure you file your results with the Office of Outcomes Assessment!
