|
Focus on Learning
Program Assessment Handbook now available. Staff at OIART have recently published a handbook to guide program faculty in the development of effective program assessment plans. The handbook provides a thorough discussion of the principles and practice of program assessment. It is available online, and will soon be accompanied by a corresponding handbook for course assessment. (...more)
Latest findings from the WELS. The Western Educational Longitudinal Study is an ongoing program for assessing and tracking changes in student attitudes, opinions, and behaviors from their preparation for college to graduation and beyond. Recent WELS reports include survey results of freshmen and transfers who entered Western in Fall 2005... (...more)
Assessment Plan Showcase: Woodring College of Education. Each academic program assessment plan provides examples of unique tools for assessing student learning and program effectiveness. Having recently completed a national certification review of its programs with distinction, Woodring provides valuable assessment models for other programs at Western. (...more)
CII Innovative Teaching Showcase. Each year, several instructors are nominated to participate in the Innovative Teaching Showcase, an online publication created by the Center for Instructional Innovation (CII) to highlight and share exceptional teaching practices; the Showcase is published online at the end of each academic year. The 2005-06 Showcase features three WWU instructors who promote students' learning and understanding of global communities. (...more)
|
|
Freshman retention, Fall '05-'06. (...latest figures)
Assessing General Education. In Spring 2006, General Education course instructors were surveyed about the level of development of assessment practices in the General Education program. Although analysis of the data for the survey is not completed, preliminary results show that many instructors have made noteworthy progress in establishing and assessing student learning outcomes in their Gen Ed classes. (...more)
Testing Center News
Test Scores & Grade Inflation. Some education critics have pointed to static average SAT scores since the early 70's as evidence of the failure of America's educational system. However, a closer look shows how a statistical anomaly called "Simpson's Paradox" explains why constant average scores are entirely consistent with overall improvement in student learning and performance. Here at Western, since 1996 average SAT scores and first quarter gpa's for entering freshmen have steadily risen in parallel fashion. (...see chart)
Course Evaluation Public Archive Launched. Historically course evaluation results from WWU classes have been the confidential property of individual instructors. Some faculty have given permission for the public posting of their evaluations, available online through a Search engine. (...more)
|
