Western Association of Schools and Colleges

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Workshop facilitator Amy Driscoll, joined by graduates of the WASC Assessment Leadership Academy, will lead these workshops designed to acquaint you with the basics of assessment and the assessment cycle. The workshops will offer an intensive introduction to the vocabulary and concepts of student learning outcomes assessment, as well as the rationale behind the process. You’ll go step by step through the assessment cycle, from developing outcomes, mapping your curriculum, and choosing methods for gathering evidence to analyzing findings and closing the loop.  At each step of the cycle, you’ll learn about best practices, benefits, common misunderstandings, and pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.

Topics to be covered are equally applicable to general education, liberal arts majors, and professional programs. They include:

• Developing learning outcomes at the course, program, and institution level
• Aligning courses and curricula with outcomes
• Developing sustainable, multi-year assessment plans
• Choosing the right direct and indirect assessment methods
• Defining and collecting evidence of learning
• Developing and using rubrics to analyze evidence
• Reaching conclusions about the evidence
• Closing the loop with changes that improve learning

Assessment 101 is a practical introduction to assessment for any individual on a campus – administrator, faculty, student affairs professional or other educator – who wants to get up to speed quickly. The workshops will be constructivist and learner-centered; blending brief presentations with interactive exercises, the facilitators will guide you as you apply what you’re learning. However, there are no teams and no projects involved, and the one-day format means that the workshop cannot explore individual topics in the same depth as WASC’s two-day assessment retreats do. By attending one of those retreats, you can build on what you learn at this workshop. Assessment 101 is also an excellent way to prepare for both the program review and the student success workshops.

Registration fee:  $195

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

This educational program is offered as a service to WASC member institutions and others who wish to attend. It is entirely optional, but upon request facilitators can provide information about effective practices that align with WASC accreditation expectations.