Learning Outcomes and Assessment

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U. R. I. Psychology Department
Learning Outcomes and Assessment for the
Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum
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Learning Goals Adopted by the U.R.I. Psychology
Department in February 2006 (from APA)
Knowledge, Skills, and Values Consistent with
the Science and Application of Psychology
Goal 1. Knowledge Base of Psychology Goal 2.
Research Methods in Psychology Goal 3. Critical
Thinking Skills in Psychology Goal 4. Application
of Psychology Goal 5. Values in Psychology
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Knowledge, Skills, and Values Consistent with
Liberal Arts Education Further Developed in
Psychology
Goal 6. Information and Technological
Literacy Goal 7. Communication Skills Goal 8.
Sociocultural and/or International
Awareness Goal 9 Personal Development Goal
10 Career Planning and Development
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Before the adoption of Learning Goals, research
was conducted to
determine if U.R.I. psychology courses address
the 100 Learning Outcomes identified by APA
Both faculty and upper-level psychology students
reported that their psychology courses address
these many learning outcomes.
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Development of Learning Outcome
Assessment
Our Basic Approach 1. use multiple methods
of testing 2. use new technologies for
testing 3. use longitudinal testing
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Testing technologies
TWO types of testing instruments

1. Webct
2. E-portfolios

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The Webct instrument
Tests eight of our TEN Learning Goals

• About 150 items in the database pool
• Students are presented with a sample of
• items
• It typically takes less than 15 minutes
• to complete

Validation procedures are underway!
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E-portfolios
Will provide additional assessment of our
Learning Goals

• Syllabi suggest that there are many
• potential course products
• Students will begin developing their
• e-portfolios in General Psychology

Rubrics will be developed in Summer 2007!
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Current Discussions
A mandatory 1-credit capstone course that
requires psychology majors to

• Meet a criterion score on the Webct
• instrument
• Evaluate and finalize their e-portfolios
• Attend psychology career workshops
• Develop CVs or resumes

Learning Outcome assessments will continue!