Student learning outcomes at DVC
One of the main conceptual shifts in American higher education in the past 25 years is the transition from a teaching to a learning paradigm. This transition refocuses colleges from their traditional purpose of providing instruction to the more dynamic and interactive objective of creating the environment in which learning will occur. Putting learning first provides the lens through which we can view our policies, practices, and organizational architecture; and it helps define what is core and what is peripheral in our institution. As a learning college, DVC places learning first and provides educational experiences for learners anytime, anywhere, and in ways appropriate for diverse learning styles.
Student learning assessment is a faculty-driven group activity, which makes an explicit statement about the expectations for student learning outcomes, methods of assessment, and standards for learning quality; regularly and systematically gathers and analyzes evidence of learning; and uses the resulting information to document, explain, and improve student performance. It is intended to involve as many faculty members—both full- and part-time faculty—as possible from departments and programs.
Unit/program meetings should be forums for developing goals and student learning outcomes and for participating in meaningful discussions on using the results for improved student learning.
The Office of Planning, Research and Student Outcomes is a primary resource for assisting you with the development of course, program, and unit learning outcomes, familiarizing you with procedures, and providing you with external and internally created tools, resources, and materials.
The intranet Research website provides copies of all SLO templates developed by instructional divisions and departments and by the student service units. As SLO assessment cycles are completed and a summary report indicating how the results have been used to improve student learning is developed, please send them to the Institutional Effectiveness Coordinator, Judy Foster, so that current information is available. Instructional units, please enter assessment information in the eSLOs application.
Instructional SLO Goals for 2009-2010:
Link to SLO intranet site and eSLOs: Click here
SLO Newsletters
SLO Resources
Please refer all SLO questions and comments to Judy Foster, jfoster@dvc.edu, Ext. 2667.
