Objectives, Assessments, and Outcomes

Furthering excellence in teaching

Aligning Assessment with Objectives

Steps to Assessing Course Objectives

Identify course objectives or Student Learning Outcomes
Determine methods of assessment
Determine assignments/activities used to achieve objectives through curriculum
One Piece of the Puzzle

mapping
Gather evidence
“Close the loop”
- Review and interpret results
- Recommend actions
- Make changes
- Measure effectiveness of changes

Ambrose, Susan & al. 2010. How Learning Works: 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. SF: Jossey-Bass.

Examples of Appropriate Assessments (from Bloom’s Taxonomy)

Type of learning objective	Examples of appropriate assessments
Recall Recognize Identify	Objective test items such as fill-in-the-blank, matching, labeling, or multiple-choice questions that require students to recall or recognize terms, facts, and concepts.
Interpret Exemplify Classify Summarize Infer Compare Explain	Activities such as papers, exams, problem sets, class discussions, or concept maps that require students to: summarize readings, films, or speeches compare and contrast two or more theories, events, or processes classify or categorize cases, elements, or events using established criteria paraphrase documents or speeches find or identify examples or illustrations of a concept or principle
Apply Execute Implement	Activities such as problem sets, performances, labs, prototyping, or simulations that require students to: use procedures to solve or complete familiar or unfamiliar tasks determine which procedure(s) are most appropriate for a given task
Analyze Differentiate Organize Attribute	Activities such as case studies, critiques, labs, papers, projects, debates, or concept maps that require students to: discriminate or select relevant and irrelevant parts determine how elements function together determine bias, values, or underlying intent in presented material
Evaluate Check Critique Assess	Activities such as journals, diaries, critiques, problem sets, product reviews, or studies that require students to test, monitor, judge, or critique readings, performances, or products against established criteria or standards.
Create Generate Plan Produce Design	Activities such as research projects, musical compositions, performances, essays, business plans, website designs, or set designs that require students to make, build, design or generate something new.