Standards for General Education Assessment Plans & Reports

 

 

 

    The General Education Subcommittee has used the Guidelines for Assessing Towson University’s General Education Curriculum to establish the following standards for reviewing assessment plans and reports.  Assessment plans and reports that meet “Best Practice Standards” are described at Towson’s Top Assessment Practices.  

    Learning Goals:
    Relevant Guiding Principles:   Be clear, be measurable, address thinking skills as well as conceptual understanding.

    __ Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard, as described below, all learning goals are written using action verbs and most focus on thinking skills rather than conceptual understanding.

    __  Meets Standard: Describes learning outcomes: what students will know, think, and be able to do upon completion of the requirement.  Meets the standards expressed in the Guiding Principles above.

    __  Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above.

    Teaching/Learning Strategies:
    Relevant Guiding Principles: Every student has sufficient opportunity to master each learning outcome.

    __ Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard, as described below, it is clear that every student has ample opportunity to master the learning goal through repeated emphasis throughout the course and/or active “hands-on” learning opportunities. 

    __  Meets Standard: Meets the standards expressed in the Guiding Principles above: the learning goal is addressed in every section within this category. 

    __  Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above or insufficient information is provided.

    Assessment Methods:
    Relevant Guiding Principles: Match the learning goal being assessed, be multiple measures, varied to accommodate student backgrounds and learning styles, used systematically over time, and yield truthful, fair information that can be used with confidence.

    __ Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard, as described below, at least one of the following criteria are met: assessments are conducted systematically (repeatedly, on a schedule) over time; multiple measures are used; and/or evidence is provided that the assessment methods yield truthful, fair information that can be used with confidence.

    __  Meets Standard: Each assessment method clearly matches the learning goal being assessed.

    __  Insufficient Information is provided to determine whether assessment methods meet the standard described above.

    __  Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above.

    Use of Results:
    Relevant Guiding Principles: Leads to appropriate modifications in learning goals, teaching methods, curriculum, and/or assessment strategies, as appropriate. 

    __ Best Practice:   In addition to meeting the standard, as described below, positive assessment results are shared with appropriate faculty, students and academic administrators.

    __  Meets Standard: Assessment results are used to modify learning goals, teaching methods, curriculum, and/or assessment strategies, as appropriate.

    __  Needs Attention: Does not meet the standard described above or insufficient information is provided.

    __  Not Applicable: This is a plan that is not yet implemented.

     

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    Last updated: 4.1.05

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