Introduction

Minutes

Members

Assessment Steering Team
Date: September 16, 2004
2:00 - 3:00 in HC-3

Present: Brent, Ann, Phil, Pam, Kristin, Camilla, Mike, Damita, Gerald and Kory

The meeting began by having the group go over the recommendations for the blueprint. Ann made the suggestion that the blueprint can be a measure of success. She also asked for clarification on vision and mission, is it standard for all?  Brent clarified that the mission and vision do not change, they are standard. Also, note that when filling out the blueprint, talk about the current academic year only. The blueprint was passed around and signed by everyone.

The next issue was the assessment forums that are forthcoming. The two forums are 9-17-04 Peggy Mackie, and in November, Indianapolis where Darrell and Mike will be giving a presentation.

The group then discussed the assessment surveys that were sent out last May. A total of 16 were returned. Brent went through those that were returned, which had some good comments, and read some examples of those comments. The group discussed the best way to give feedback to the faculty so that they know the surveys were looked at and to let faculty know that they will be seeing this every year. Some ideas that the group came up with were:

• Publish responses, sending them out by email; idea is to let people know we noted and responded to the surveys we did receive
• If faculty read comments from other faculty then it may make them want to participate more when the next assessment survey comes out
• The survey can be a good tool for the self-study, to show how we are evaluating

It was decided that Brent will prepare responses for publishing.

Next Brent went into the board report that is due to him. Four people have been turned theirs in, but everyone needs to turn one in. The report is asking for a general update on where everyone is at and where they are going. Figures to demonstrate the data can be added, if you wish. Once all the reports are received Brent will format them to match, as far as size, font, etc. The reports need to be turned in to Brent by September 24 so that he can summarize them and send them in. The board will meet in November to go over the reports, and most likely will be doing so during a retreat so that they will have more time to analyze it.

It was decided that the group will meet once a month, excluding December and May on the third Thursdays at 1:00-2:00. The meetings are set for October 21 and November 18.

It was agreed that an assessment day is necessary. A few ideas that were presented were to:

§         Have a lunch to brief on what’s been going on, update.

§         Have a presentation during the day of learning

§         Roll into the NCA Open House, in Criterion 3. Have each person from assessment give a brief description of what’s been going on – if each team did a poster set up the same saying where you are, showing what’s been done. We could try to get them uniform looking (thru Adriana) by sending out a template for the poster using PowerPoint

Outcome reports

Each member gave their report and then the meeting was adjourned:

Kristin-staying with Outcomes #1 and #2, had 30 matrices submitted last year (70%). Professional behaviors are being submitted now, also sending in examples of what they used to get these done. Goal is 100% response rate. What we need to do is use what we have gathered, put info received to work for us.

Pam-spending this year evaluating the portfolios that have been gathered to compare the data back from 3 years and find trends, anomalies, and figure out ways to help. They have met twice already.

Camilla-did the last test last year and is looking at those results, from what they have looked at, there may be some things that show where there may be some impacts. Looking at which way we are going and suggestions we want to make.

Phil- finished pilot, collected large amount of data, had rubrics and standardized test (tested over 400 on standardized, rubrics was 350 students tested) no longer need to collect data, had first meeting, looking at what we learned from pilot and how to go about this now. A question they have is: might we be able to correlate our outcome with asset tests scores with their SS# and see if there are any correlations, basic competencies, cross correlative study, what way do students’ language skills impact their ability to succeed on this type of testing? They would also like to query SIS to look at intake data from when students first arrive, in particular: ESL, GPA, credit hours earned, completion rate, and retention rate. In the report to the board need to show that we are able to close the loop w/ instructors, we are now thinking how do we move to the improvement stage to keep things going beyond the pilot, get faculty to continue and spread involvement to focus on critical thinking in the classrooms, could gather those that have already been involved and give them something, a lecture or workshop or something to pull them in, there is a core group of people that can generate interest.

Ann-using standardized test, and would like another measurement but doesn’t have yet, testing with a national standardized test, testing with a group that hasn’t had much of information literacy, library instruction, has 3 teachers with 5 classes.  In spring will test with different group that does have this background information, and different exposure to information literacy.

Mike-first meeting was last week; reaffirmed data for evaluating portfolios. They have fewer portfolios this year than last. Evaluation days are scheduled for Oct. 11 and 12 from 1-3, to evaluate portfolios. All are invited to join. They evaluate in fall and gather in spring. It is a holistic evaluation of portfolios, not broken down, as far as what type of errors, looking at whole of portfolio, are they meeting our general requirements, are there trends to share with faculty?