Measuring Adult Student Learning Outcomes

1
Measuring Adult Student Learning Outcomes

• Mary Moretto, Goshen College
• Cynthia Tweedell, CCCU Center for Research in
  Adult Learning

2
Assessment Questions to Ponder

• Are we good?
• Are we good enough?
• How do we know if we are good enough?
• What measures do we need to find out if we are
  good enough?
• Standardized measures- advantages/disadvantages
• Benchmarking- with whom?

3
Benchmarking from the CCCU Center for Research in
Adult Learning

• Adult Student Learning Outcomes
• 2nd year of project
• About 10 schools participating
• Common writing prompt
• Beginning and graduating students
• 3 faculty from each school as scorers
• Critical Thinking, Written Communication,
  Christian Worldview
• How does your school compare to other adult
  programs?

4
(No Transcript)
5
Results 6 Colleges
6
Task Force Member Experience

• Met through phone conferences
• Members volunteered to be member of the
  assessment team- 2007

7
Thought Process for Choosing Tool

• Gave examples of existing measurement tools
• Discussed and decided on common traits for
  grading rubric
• Discussed levels on the grading rubric
• Christian Worldview caused most discussion

8
Administration of ProjectGoshen College

• Degree completion program
• -students come with 40-60 credits
• Writing course is the second course for all
  students
• -Assigned and graded by instructor
• -Submitted by email
• End course for all students is Ethics
• -assigned but not graded
• -submitted by email to instructor
• -will be graded in the future

9
Results

• Elated with our numbers
• Scores went up
• Small size first year
• Results not significant because of size
• Have used the results in faculty training
  sessions
• Christian world view most surprising and
  rewarding result

10
Join us
Contact Dr. Cynthia Tweedell
cynthia.tweedell_at_indwes.edu
11
QUESTIONS

• ?