“What is the purpose of assessment?” I think every assessment director, coordinator, and faculty member has been asked this question at some point. It is a great question. I think the answer lies in your “philosophy” of assessment. I believe there are two distinct ways of looking at assessment – there are those who look to use assessment to “prove” learning and those who use assessment to “improve” learning. What’s the difference?
Proving Student Learning
- Focuses on an external audience
- Faculty often have little influence or control in the assessment processes
- Results can be difficult to tie to the actual teaching that occurs in the classroom
- Purpose of the assessment is to satisfy accountability requirements from the state, accrediting bodies, external stakeholders, etc.
Improving Student Learning
- Focuses on the program and the discipline
- Faculty drive the assessment processes and the interpretation of the results
- Results are based on what happens in the classroom and program
- Purpose is to improve student’s learning in the classroom/program/discipline
I support assessment practices that are focused on improving student learning, how about you?
Sheri H. Barrett
