The Need to Know Information
Main Function
Assessment should inform teaching and improve student and institutional learning.
Key Points to Know
- Assessment should provide useful information to faculty and the institution.
- Assessment should measure the intended learning outcomes.
- Assessment should never be used punitively.
- Assessment is not perfect.
Benefits
- Good assessment is a tool for learning: it lets students demonstrate outcomes achievement with feedback to tell them where they are missing the mark and allows faculty adjust teaching when necessary.
- Good assessment lets faculty know what progress is being made toward an outcome.
- Good assessment lets faculty test what they teach instead of teaching to a test.
- Good assessment lets faculty stay ahead of legislation.
- Good assessments provide a way for faculty and the institution to articulate student learning to internal and external constituents.