The Assessment Cycle of Student Learning Outcomes

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Identify a point person or group of people in your department.

2. Identify what program you will work on.

· General Education

· Developmental Education

· Transfer

· Degree

· Certificate

· Other

3. As a department, choose or determine a goal for that program. [example: Column 1]

· See the DVC catalog for a list of established GE goals.

· Your goal should relate to the DVC Mission Statement.

4. As a department, discuss possible learning outcomes and decide on 3 - 5 measurable outcomes to assess this year. [example: column 2]

· Producing well-written learning outcomes is the key to success. Click here for a list of examples. Click here for further resources on writing learning outcomes.

5. As a department, A) determine how you will assess each learning outcome (means of assessment) and B) establish departmental criteria for what constitutes a successful accomplishment of each learning outcome (criteria for success). [example:column 3]

· The SLO Guide contains guidelines for effective and feasible means of assessment.

6. Implement assessment and collect and analyze the results of the assessment. [example: column 4]

· The DVC Research Office is available to assist with this step. Contact Mohamed Eisa at x2617 or meisa@dvc.edu.

7. Report results back to the department (e.g. at the beginning of the following semester) so that the department can use the information to improve student learning (use of results). [example:column 5]

8. Fill out the following template (as a downloadable Word document ) to summarize your efforts and results.

A) Keep a copy in your department for future reference.

B) Give a copy to your Program Review committee.

C) Bring a copy to the TS/SLO committee for feedback, counseling, ideas, praise, and to facilitate interdepartmental sharing of ideas and results.

D) Laugh at your mistakes and get ready to try it again.

SLO Template Example: Automotive

DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE SLO PLAN			Unit/department:			Contact Person: James Nichols			Ext. 4567	Date of Submission: 01/05/03
LEVEL Choose institutional, program, or course	0Institutional (select one) 0General Ed. 0Developmental Education						Program Title:
	TProgram (select one) TAcademic/Vocational 0 Student Support						Program Title: Automotive Technology Program
	0 Course			Course Number and Title:
GOAL STATEMENT: Students who complete the Automotive program will be prepared for job entry and careers in a variety of automotive fields.
Expected Student Learning Outcome		Methods of Assessment			Measurement Criteria			Summary and Analysis of Data			Use of Results and Modifications
Select three outcomes		Identify two methods for each outcome			Identify the criterion for each method.
1. Graduates of the Automotive Technology Program will be successfully employed in the field. 2. Graduates of the Automotive Technology Program will be technically proficient. 3. Graduates of the program will be able to meet the needs of their employers.		1a. Graduates will complete a Graduating Student Survey at the time of program completion. 1b. Graduates will complete an Alumni Survey one year after graduation. 2a. Graduate students will diagnose and correct mechanical problems in five test cars “prepared” for the students by program faculty. 2b. Graduates will take the National Automotive Test. 3. Automotive Technology faculty will administer an Employer Survey every three years to those who employ program graduates.			1a. 50% of responding graduates will report employment in the field at the time of program completion. 1b. 80% of responding graduates will report employment in the field one year after completion. 2a. 90% of graduates will be able to identify and correct within a given period of time all of the mechanical problems in the five test cars. No single automotive function will fail to be identified and corrected by more than 20% of students. 2b. 80% of graduates will pass the National Automotive Test. On no subscale will students average missing 30% or more of the items. 3. 80% of respondents to the Employer Survey will respond that they would be pleased to employ future graduates.			1a. 73% of respondents reported employment. 1b. 81% of respondents reported employment. 2a. 79% overall success rate on all 5 cars. Electrical system malfunction undetected by 34% of students. 2b. Pass rate on National Automotive Test was 83%; however, on “hydraulic theory” subscale students missed an average of 34% of questions. 3. 90% of respondents reported willingness to employ graduates, but only 50% of body shops.			1a. Revised criteria for success to 70%. 1b. No action necessary at this time, however, will continue to monitor. 2a. Expanded electrical trouble-shooting component of AT 202 to include automotive electrical systems. 2b. Modified means of teaching hydraulic theory during AT 102 (Basic Automotive Systems). 3. Added body shop representative to Advisory Committee and are reviewing curriculum to determine if separate program is needed.

* Automotive Technology Program example adopted and modified from Jim Nichols 5-Step model presented at “A Feasible Approach to Assessment in Instructional Program at [CCCCD]” workshop. Diablo Valley College. 2003.