ABET: The COSTS and BENEFITS of ASSESSMENT

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ABETThe COSTS and BENEFITS of ASSESSMENT

• ECEDHA ANNUAL Meeting
• March 19, 2007
• Ashok Iyer

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VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

• Carnegie Research Extensive University
• School of Engineering established 11
  years ago
• 2 ABET reviews for EE (2000 and 2006)
• 1 ABET review for CpE (2006)
• Program designed with Criteria 2000 in mind

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ECE DEPARTMENT

• 14 faculty
• 3 Prof, 5 Associate, 6 Assistant
• 250 undergraduate students
• 40 full time graduate students
• 2.0 million in research expenditures
• Ambitious growth plans to double faculty and
  student size in next 7 years

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ABET Criteria 2000

• Program Educational Objectives
• Technical Knowledge
• Communication Skills
• Creativity
• Professionalism

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Assessment of Collective Program Objectives
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ABET Criteria 2000

• Program Learning Outcomes
• 7 outcomes
• In the process of changing outcomes to a - k
• Assessment Methods
• (Three Guiding Principles)
• Assessment occurs at every level of program
• All students and all faculty participate in the
  assessment process
• Outcomes assessment is done as a routine part
  of program management

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Assessment Tools

• Numeric
• Graded requirements are an essential means of
  assessing students.
• Topical contents of selected courses are linked
  to learning outcomes.
• Concept Inventory Assessment.
• Short test or quiz administered early in a course
  that immediately follows a pre-requisite
  course.
• Results analyzed by instructor.
• Report discussed in a meeting or retreat and
  determine action plan to be taken in
  appropriate courses.
• Faculty
• Comprehensive end of course report (course
  diary) for each class they teach.

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Assessment Tools

• Electronic Portfolio
• Designed an electronic portfolio template
• Students turn in a CD with samples of lab work,
  design, written communications, etc.
• IAB members review and evaluate portfolios.
• Surveys
• Alumni
• Internship Employers
• Senior Exit survey
• End of year ABET retreat discuss all course
  diaries, curricular issues, etc

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CONCEPT INVENTORY ASSESSMENT

• Assessment Course EGRE 224 Electronics 1
• Concept Areas
• complex numbers,
• node voltages,
• Thevenins equivalent
• transfer functions
• measurement with oscilloscope
• oral presentation
• Learning Outcomes Evaluated
• Foundations
• Laboratory
• Communications
• Origination Courses EGRE 150, EGRE 206

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Assessment Matrix
Red X indicates primary assessment tool
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Conclusions

• Greatest cost to faculty is time.
• Designed assessment tools to be part of their
  normal teaching duties.
• Faculty feel the assessment is useful.
• Do not let your assessment scheme get high
  jacked by the deans office
• Do not get bogged down in collecting data.