Download or read book Using Quality Benchmarks for Assessing and Developing Undergraduate Programs written by Dana S. Dunn and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2010-12-21 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Praise for Using Quality Benchmarks for Assessing and Developing Undergraduate Programs "This welcome volume provides discipline-friendly, carefully crafted frameworks for focusing faculty and staff on the dimensions that matter to student learning and institutional effectiveness." —George D. Kuh, Chancellor's Professor and director, Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research "A welcome contrast to narrow, mechanical views of assessment, this volume provides a comprehensive model for academic program improvement. Readers will find a powerful framework, flexible tools, and a human touch that brings the whole process to life." —Pat Hutchings, former vice president, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "Comprehensive in its scope, detailed in its research and analysis, practical in its examples and recommendations, this book provides a refreshingly developmental approach to program assessment and improvement." —Timothy Riordan, associate provost, Alverno College

Download or read book Improving Quality in American Higher Education written by Richard Arum and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-05-31 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An ambitious, comprehensive reimagining of 21st century higher education Improving Quality in American Higher Education outlines the fundamental concepts and competencies society demands from today's college graduates, and provides a vision of the future for students, faculty, and administrators. Based on a national, multidisciplinary effort to define and measure learning outcomes—the Measuring College Learning project—this book identifies 'essential concepts and competencies' for six disciplines. These essential concepts and competencies represent efforts towards articulating a consensus among faculty in biology, business, communication, economics, history, and sociology—disciplines that account for nearly 40 percent of undergraduate majors in the United States. Contributions from thought leaders in higher education, including Ira Katznelson, George Kuh, and Carol Geary Schneider, offer expert perspectives and persuasive arguments for the need for greater clarity, intentionality, and quality in U.S. higher education. College faculty are our best resource for improving the quality of undergraduate education. This book offers a path forward based on faculty perspectives nationwide: Clarify program structure and aims Articulate high-quality learning goals Rigorously measure student progress Prioritize higher order competencies and disciplinarily grounded conceptual understandings A culmination of over two years of efforts by faculty and association leaders from six disciplines, this book distills the national conversation into a delineated set of fundamental ideas and practices, and advocates for the development and use of rigorous assessment tools that are valued by faculty, students, and society. Improving Quality in American Higher Education brings faculty voices to the fore of the conversation and offers an insightful look at the state of higher education, and a realistic strategy for better serving our students.

Download or read book Assessment in Higher Education written by Samuel J. Messick and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-12-16 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assessment in Higher Education brings together in one place most of the major issues confronting higher education in the 1990s. These include enhancing student access, development, and success in higher education; transforming admissions testing to meet expanding educational needs; resolving the politics of accountability by assessing quality outcomes of higher education; assuring fair assessment responsive to human diversity; and facing the technological future of higher education. An integrative thread that weaves through all of these issues is the concept of equity, especially as it bears on social justice in education and on fairness in assessment. Another integrative thread is the role of computer and multimedia technology not only in improving the efficiency and power of all the functions of higher education assessment, but also in revolutionizing the delivery of higher education itself.

Download or read book EBOOK Developing Effective Assessment in Higher Education A Practical Guide written by Sue Bloxham and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2007-10-16 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "As an overview, Developing Effective Assessment in Higher Education makes a very useful contribution to assessment literature, providing a publication that is relevant and accessible to practitioners whilst giving rigorous exploration of issues associated with student assessment. It should find a readership on that basis and will be welcomed as a considered and insightful contribution to the literature on student assessment." Higher Education Review What are the main issues when considering the design and management of effective assessment strategies for academic programmes? How should lecturers design and use assessment in university so that it helps students to learn, as well as judging their achievement? How can students be prepared for assessment, including peer, self and group assessment? This book provides comprehensive practical guidance on managing and improving assessment within higher education. It tackles all stages in the assessment cycle including: Assessment design Preparing students for assessment Marking and moderation Providing feedback Quality assurance It also provides a concise introduction to the research literature on assessment which will inform practice, debate, programme enhancement and practitioner research within university departments, teaching teams and courses for higher education teachers. The practical guidance in the book is substantiated with reference to relevant research and policy. In particular, it considers how the different purposes of assessment create conflicting demands for staff; often characterised by the tension between attempting to support student learning whilst meeting imperatives for quality assurance and demonstrable maintenance of standards. Issues are debated using concrete examples and workable solutions are illustrated. Consideration is also given to the management of assessment as well as to how new technologies might be used to develop assessment methods and enhance student learning. Developing Effective Assessment in Higher Education is key reading for both new and experienced lecturers, programme leaders and academic developers, and will enhance their efforts to use assessment to improve students’ learning as well as to grade them fairly, reliably and efficiently.

Download or read book An Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs in the United States written by Committee on an Assessment of Quality-Related Characteristics of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1982-02-01 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The quality of doctoral-level chemical engineering (N=79), civil engineering (N=74), electrical engineering (N=91), and mechanical engineering (N=82) programs at United States universities was assessed, using 16 measures. These measures focused on variables related to: (1) program size; (2) characteristics of graduates; (3) reputational factors (scholarly quality of faculty, effectiveness of programs in educating research scholars/scientists, improvement in program quality during the last 5 years); (4) university library size; (5) research support; and (6) publication records. Chapter I discusses prior attempts to assess quality in graduate education, development of the study plans, and the selection of disciplines and programs to be evaluated. Chapter II discusses the methodology used, focusing on each of the assessment measures. Chapters III to VI present, respectively, findings from the analyses of the chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs. Chapter VII includes a summary of results, correlations among measures, several additional analyses, and suggestions for future studies. Among the findings reported are those indicating that electrical engineering programs had, on the average, the largest number of faculty (N=23) in December 1980 and had graduated the most doctoral students (N=32) during fiscal years 1975-1979. (Survey instruments and supporting documentation are included in appendices.) (JN)

Download or read book Developing Assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-05-29 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Assessments, understood as tools for tracking what and how well students have learned, play a critical role in the classroom. Developing Assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards develops an approach to science assessment to meet the vision of science education for the future as it has been elaborated in A Framework for K-12 Science Education (Framework) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These documents are brand new and the changes they call for are barely under way, but the new assessments will be needed as soon as states and districts begin the process of implementing the NGSS and changing their approach to science education. The new Framework and the NGSS are designed to guide educators in significantly altering the way K-12 science is taught. The Framework is aimed at making science education more closely resemble the way scientists actually work and think, and making instruction reflect research on learning that demonstrates the importance of building coherent understandings over time. It structures science education around three dimensions - the practices through which scientists and engineers do their work, the key crosscutting concepts that cut across disciplines, and the core ideas of the disciplines - and argues that they should be interwoven in every aspect of science education, building in sophistication as students progress through grades K-12. Developing Assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards recommends strategies for developing assessments that yield valid measures of student proficiency in science as described in the new Framework. This report reviews recent and current work in science assessment to determine which aspects of the Framework's vision can be assessed with available techniques and what additional research and development will be needed to support an assessment system that fully meets that vision. The report offers a systems approach to science assessment, in which a range of assessment strategies are designed to answer different kinds of questions with appropriate degrees of specificity and provide results that complement one another. Developing Assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards makes the case that a science assessment system that meets the Framework's vision should consist of assessments designed to support classroom instruction, assessments designed to monitor science learning on a broader scale, and indicators designed to track opportunity to learn. New standards for science education make clear that new modes of assessment designed to measure the integrated learning they promote are essential. The recommendations of this report will be key to making sure that the dramatic changes in curriculum and instruction signaled by Framework and the NGSS reduce inequities in science education and raise the level of science education for all students.

Download or read book The Program Evaluation Standards written by Donald B. Yarbrough and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2011 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Including a new section on evaluation accountability, this Third Edition details 30 standards which give advice to those interested in planning, implementing and using program evaluations.

Download or read book Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2012-11-03 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research and development (R&D) organizations are operated by government, business, academe, and independent institutes. The success of their parent organizations is closely tied to the success of these R&D organizations. In this report, organizations refers to an organization that performs research and/or development activities (often a laboratory), and parent refers to the superordinate organization of which the R&D organization is a part. When the organization under discussion is formally labeled a laboratory, it is referred to as such. The question arises: How does one know whether an organization and its programs are achieving excellence in the best interests of its parent? Does the organization have an appropriate research staff, facilities, and equipment? Is it doing the right things at high levels of quality, relevance, and timeliness? Does it lead to successful new concepts, products, or processes that support the interests of its parent? This report offers assessment guidelines for senior management of organizations and of their parents. The report lists the major principles of assessment, noting that details will vary from one organization to another. It provides sufficient information to inform the design of assessments, but it does not prescribe precisely how to perform them, because different techniques are needed for different types of organizations. Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations covers three key factors that underpin the success of an R&D organization: (1) the mission of the organization and its alignment with that of the parents; (2) the relevance and impact of the organization's work; and (3) the resources provided to the organization, beginning with a high-quality staff and management.

Download or read book Quality in Online Programs written by and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2022-01-31 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides successful, evidence-based approaches and practices for quality assurance related to various aspects of online programs that can be adopted or adapted by faculty, leaders, and institutions looking to create, improve, and evaluate online programs in higher education.

Download or read book Developing Performance Based Assessments Grades K 5 written by Nancy P. Gallavan and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Use PBAs to design learning experiences that increase student engagement and achievement! "This book explains performance-based assessments (PBAs) in easy-to-understand terms and describes how to construct PBAs that measure learner performance effectively while allowing educators to align curriculum and instruction with students' needs. Using PBAs, teachers can engage students in the learning process, connect the learning to students' individual lives, and monitor learning outcomes. The author provides: Detailed and clear examples of performance-based assessmentsTools for assessment and guidelines for creating and using rubricsChecklists, frequently asked questions, graphic organizers, and activities to reinforce the content in each chapter

Download or read book Assessment Essentials written by Trudy W. Banta and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2014-10-20 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive expansion to the essential higher education assessment text This second edition of Assessment Essentials updates the bestselling first edition, the go-to resource on outcomes assessment in higher education. In this thoroughly revised edition, you will find, in a familiar framework, nearly all new material, examples from more than 100 campuses, and indispensable descriptions of direct and indirect assessment methods that have helped to educate faculty, staff, and students about assessment. Outcomes assessment is of increasing importance in higher education, especially as new technologies and policy proposals spotlight performance-based success measures. Leading authorities Trudy Banta and Catherine Palomba draw on research, standards, and best practices to address the timeless and timeliest issues in higher education accountability. New topics include: Using electronic portfolios in assessment Rubrics and course-embedded assessment Assessment in student affairs Assessing institutional effectiveness As always, the step-by-step approach of Assessment Essentials will guide you through the process of developing an assessment program, from the research and planning phase to implementation and beyond, with more than 100 examples along the way. Assessment data are increasingly being used to guide everything from funding to hiring to curriculum decisions, and all faculty and staff will need to know how to use them effectively. Perfect for anyone new to the assessment process, as well as for the growing number of assessment professionals, this expanded edition of Assessment Essentials will be an essential resource on every college campus.

Download or read book Real Time Student Assessment written by Peggy L. Maki and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2023-07-03 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book challenges institutions and their programs to prioritize the use of chronological assessment results to benefit enrolled students in comparison with the more common practice of prolonged assessment cycles that generally benefit future students. Peggy Maki advocates for real-time assessment processes to identify patterns of underperformance and obstacles that require timely interventions for enrolled students to succeed. In tandem with the sets of educational practices and policies that many institutions have now undertaken to close achievement and graduation rates across our diverse student demographics, such as developing clear degree pathways, she calls on all higher education providers – if they are to remain relevant and meet their social purpose in our complex world – to urgently recalibrate their assessment processes to focus on currently enrolled students’ progress towards achieving a high-quality degree, regardless of when they matriculate or re-enter higher education. She demonstrates that we already have sufficient examples and evidence to implement real-time assessment of students as they progress through their studies. She draws on the practices of specialized accredited programs, such as those in the professions that assess in real time; on the experiences of institutions that have adopted competency-based education; and on the affordances of technologies that now provide faculty and students with up-to-the-minute diagnostics. She identifies the six principles necessary to implement a real-time assessment process, illustrated by case studies of how campuses have operationalized them to advance students’ equitable progress towards achieving a high-quality degree; and demonstrates the benefits of real-time assessment compared to more future-oriented processes, among which is engaging students in reflecting on their own progress along their degree pathways.She advocates for the use of well documented national outcomes-based frameworks such as Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP), its aligned Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education scoring rubrics ( VALUE), the Degree Qualifications Profile, and discipline-based outcomes assessments to ensure high-quality degrees that meet well-defined standards and criteria. She also identifies how data systems and technological developments help to monitor closely and respond in time to students’ patterns of underperformance.The book is an urgent call for higher education to achieve the values of equity, transparency and quality it espouses; and ensure that all students graduate in a timely fashion with the competencies they need to be active and productive citizens.

Download or read book Quality Performance Assessment written by Christina Brown and published by . This book was released on 2012-11-01 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Created at the Center for Collaborative Education, this is a practical guide for implementing performance assessments in schools and school districts. It includes extensive tools and assessments aligned with the Common Core. The guide is spiral bound for use by teachers and teams of educators. It offers full discussion of issues pertaining to performance assessment.

Download or read book Quality in the Undergraduate Experience written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2016-06-16 with total page 99 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Students, parents, and government agencies need as much information as possible about the outcomes of the higher education experience and the extent to which they can expect a fair return on their investment in higher education.In order to better understand the concept of quality - enabling students to acquire knowledge in a variety of disciplines and deep knowledge in at least one discipline, as well as to develop a range of skills and habits of mind that prepare them for career success, engaged citizenship, intercultural competence, social responsibility, and continued intellectual growth - an ad hoc planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Board on Higher Education and Workforce, with funding from the Lumina Foundation, organized a workshop in Washington, D.C., on December 14-15, 2015.This report summarizes the presentations and discussion of that event.

Download or read book Emblems of Quality in Higher Education written by Jennifer Grant Haworth and published by Allyn & Bacon. This book was released on 1997 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To be sure, post-secondary educators have always been concerned about the quality of their programs. But "quality" has often been defined in terms of faculty research or student test scores - measures that do not meet today's educational needs. This book challenges educators to reexamine their assumptions and beliefs about program quality. It offers a comprehensive theory of quality in higher education, organized around one central idea: that student learning is the focal point of a high-quality undergraduate or graduate program, and consequently that program quality is a result of student, faculty, and administrative engagement in mutually supportive teaching and learning.

Download or read book Handbook of Quality Assurance for University Teaching written by Roger Ellis and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-06-26 with total page 510 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This practical and authoritative handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the issues and approaches to assuring quality in university teaching. Including contributions from major international figures, the book contains a wealth of ideas and practical advice to help universities commit to quality in teaching and offers insights into how the topics raised can be directly applied. The book initially identifies some of the key issues surrounding the topic, such as the evidence-based identification of teaching quality; the training of university lecturers and faculty; external and internal quality assurance; the tension between professional autonomy and governmental regulation; and the involvement of students in developing quality. It then moves on to present ideas and initiatives to address these problems, tackling the subject through four sections: Assuring Quality - questioning what quality assurance means and how it might be practised; Identifying Quality - examining what knowledge exists at present and how it might be further researched; Developing Quality - investigating the development of staff through teacher training and appraisal; Case Studies of Quality Assurance - reviewing six case studies of quality assurance in a range of contrasting subjects including the professional subjects of Medicine, Nursing and Teacher Training which are also addressed systemically in the first section. Full of practical advice, Handbook of Quality Assurance for University Teaching is an invaluable and unique resource for Faculty, Subject Leaders, University Administrators and Quality Assessors.

Download or read book Academic Standards in Higher Education written by Nicola Reimann and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-08-15 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Academic standards in higher education are important but largely misunderstood. This book examines the notion of academic standards, explaining what they are and why they are important, and identifying the many myths that surround them. Based on the lessons learnt from the UK-wide Degree Standards Project, which developed, piloted and evaluated a professional development course on degree standards aimed at external examiners, the book offers practical suggestions for ways in which higher education staff can develop a more sophisticated understanding of standards. It discusses the implications of rethinking academic standards for higher education policy and practice, through examples and case studies derived from research evidence, the Degree Standards Project and contributors’ own experience and expertise. As a broader approach to assessment literacy, this volume aims to develop readers’ standards literacy by challenging routine practices and proposing promising alternatives. Written with a diverse readership in mind, this book is relevant to discipline-based academics, quality officers, academic developers, university leaders and managers, as well as policy makers.