Program Goals Just Aren’t Enough:

Strategies for Putting Learning Outcomes into Words

Dr. Jill L. LaneResearch Associate/Program

ManagerSchreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence

Dr. Barbara Wiens-TuersAssociate Professor of

EconomicsPenn State Altoona

Workshop Goals

To guide you through the process of:

Identifying your program goals Developing measurable learning outcomes

Identifying which courses in your program are producing the desired learning outcomes.

Why Conduct a Program Assessment? To determine whether the intended goals and learning outcomes are being met

To keep the curriculum current To bring to the surface ways in which the course or program might be improved

To assess for accreditation

Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal

Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes

Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

Identify Program Goals Goals specify what the program intends to accomplish

Goals are written broadly and do not necessarily specify exactly what the student will know or be able to do

Sample Program Goal:The program will produce graduates who can think critically, solve problems, and make decisions

Health and Human Development Program Goal

Graduates of the Physical Therapy Assistant Program will be prepared to understand and implement the interventions that are prescribed by the physical therapist.

Physics Program Goal

Graduates will acquire the theoretical and experimental background for work in areas such as acoustics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, mathematical physics, and engineering.

Comparative Literature Program Goal

Students will obtain a global awareness through a wide range of international literary and language experiences that are critical in today's world.

Psychology Program Goal

Students will understand and generate applications of psychology to individual, social and organizational issues.

Engineering Program Goal

Students will have the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.

Communications Program Goal

Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications

Activity 1: Goal Development List at least 3 goals for your program.

Trigger Questions: Program Level:

Are there specific accreditation or certification requirements for your curricular area?

What are the needs of the potential student population upon graduation?

Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program or goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal

Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes

Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

Identifying Learning Outcomes Outcomes describe what the students must know or do upon completing the program or course.

Outcomes help produce evidence that your program or course is meeting its intended goals.

Outcomes are measurable. Outcomes statements contain verbs If applicable, program outcomes should incorporate appropriate accreditation standards.

Developing Learning Outcomes There are different types of outcomes: Knowledge Skills Attitudes

Knowledge Outcomes Synthesis and integration of information

Learn new techniques and methods

Evaluating research methods

Skill Outcomes Analytical

Analyze problems from multiple perspectives Communication

Communicates effectively when writing and/or speaking

Research Designs appropriate experiment to answer question

Teamwork Shares information with others

Attitude Outcomes Identifies beliefs about the nature of the field

Indicates perceptions about interdisciplinary connections

Learning Outcomes:Students will be able to: Distinguish between different types of aerobic conditioning exercises

Correctly measure standard vital signs Recognize and monitor responses to positional changes and activities

Program Goal:Graduates of the Physical Therapy Assistant Program will be prepared to understand and implement the interventions that are prescribed by the physical therapist.

Health and Human Development

Learning Outcomes:Students will be able to: Evaluate an article from a discipline-specific text and write a critique using theoretical principles.

Employ the correct procedure for a given experiment.

Program Goal:Graduates will acquire the theoretical and experimental background for work in areas such as acoustics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, mathematical physics, and engineering.

Physics

Learning Outcomes:Students will be able to: Analyze a text who setting is outside of the U.S. and infer the social and economic conditions based on the author’s descriptions.

Compare a non-U.S. publication with a U.S. publication and show the similarities and differences between the two settings.

Program Goal:Students will obtain a global awareness through a wide range of international literary and language experiences that are critical in today's world.

Comparative Literature

Learning Outcomes:Students will be able to: Distinguish between several different psychological issues

Recommend a course of treatment for an individual based on the issues presented.

Program Goal:Students will understand and generate applications of psychology to individual, social and organizational issues

Psychology

Learning Outcomes:Students will be able to: Choose the appropriate method for testing the strength of materials.

Create a hypothesis and the methods necessary to test their hypothesis

Program Goal:Students will have the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.

Engineering

Learning Outcomes:Students will be able to: Analyze a film for its inclusion or exclusion of certain diverse groups.

Write an unbiased news article about a two-sided issue.

Program Goal:Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to communications.

Communications

Activity 2: Outcome Development Choose one of the goals from Activity 1 and develop learning outcomes for that goal.

Trigger Questions: What should students know upon successfully completing the program or course?

What skills should students possess upon successfully completing the program or course?

Think: If I am a student in your course or program what do I have to do to demonstrate that I have completed the course or program successfully?

Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program or course goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal

Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes

Select appropriate evaluation methods Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve

Determining Course Contribution to Program Outcomes Use a mapping matrix to determine which courses are contributing to the attainment of specific program outcomes and goals Helps to identify gaps or incorrect sequencing of courses.

Helps to determine where internal evaluations should take place.

Activity 3: Mapping Outcomes to Courses Using the list of outcomes you developed in Activity 2: List courses in the program across the top of the worksheet

Place a check mark in each box to indicate the courses in your program where the outcome is covered.

Steps in the Program Assessment Process Identify program goals Identify learning outcomes for each goal

Determine which courses are helping students achieve the desired learning outcomes

Select evaluation methods and tools Conduct evaluations Interpret results Provide feedback to inform and/or improve