Department of Sociology Learning Assessment Development

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Department of Sociology Learning Assessment
Development

• Heather Zaykowski, Ph.D.

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Learning Assessment Process

• Curriculum committee develops goals and rubric.
• Assess ability of sources to address rubric
  criteria.
• Revise assessment tool and method.
• Provide suggestions for implementation and
  revision.

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Defining Sociology Learning Goals

1. Understanding Sociology as a distinct discipline.
2. Knowledge of the role of sociological theory.
3. Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods
   in Sociology.
4. Technical skills in retrieving information from
   electronic sources and data analysis.
5. Knowledge of the basic concepts in sociology and
   their fundamental inter-relationships.

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Testing the Draft Assessment Tool

• Can the rubric criteria be observed in the
  sources for assessment?
• Examined Spring 2012 capstone papers and methods
  exams.

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Observations

• Criteria could not easily be identified in the
  capstone papers.
• Assessment tool too specific or broad/categories
  inappropriate.
• Wide range of paper topics, varying connection to
  learning goals.
• Methods exams addressed quantitative and
  qualitative knowledge.

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Revising the Assessment Tool

1. Revised descriptions of criteria.
2. Created social-psychology and criminal justice
   specific rubrics.
3. Developed a sampling method for assessment.

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Knowledge of Sociology as a Specific Discipline
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Recommendations for Implementation

• Learning goals should known prior to assessment.
• Make assessment transparent for instructors and
  students.
• Provide reviewers with additional guidance.

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Suggestions for Future Revisions

• Standardize, simply and focus methods assessment.
• Rotate target rubric criteria each assessment
  period.
• Revisit the capstone papers as the most
  appropriate method to capture learning goals.
• Continue to engage instructors in developing and
  revising learning assessments.