Outcome Assessment And Accreditation
- Conference
- Location
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Chicago, Illinois
- Publication Date
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June 18, 2006
- Start Date
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June 18, 2006
- End Date
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June 21, 2006
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Technology
- Page Count
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10
- Page Numbers
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11.977.1 - 11.977.10
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--252
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/252
- Download Count
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422
Paper Authors
Richard Boser Illinois State University
Dr. Richard Boser is a Professor and Coordinator of the Construction Management program at Illinois State University. He received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 1991. He has been responsible for managing the department assessment plan for over 10 years and serves in various capacities with accreditation agencies. Regular teaching responsibilities include courses in project management, construction management, and construction materials and methods.
Kenneth Stier Illinois State University
Dr. Ken Stier is a professor and Coordinator of the Integrated Manufacturing Systems Program at Illinois State University. He received his Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction and has been responsible for coordinating the assessment plan for the Manufacturing Systems Program for the last three years. He has served in various capacities on six accreditation site visits. Regular teaching responsibilities include courses in manufacturing processes, materials technology, and manufacturing organization and management.
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Outcome Assessment and Accreditation
Abstract
The ideas presented in this paper are designed to assist faculty in technical areas accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to develop an effective assessment program. This paper focuses on common means of assessment that can be used as essential elements for continuous improvement of curriculum to meet accreditation standards. Advantages and disadvantages of these methods are presented to allow readers to determine which methods are most appropriate for their situation. The authors also provide their own experiences with many of these assessment methods. The paper concludes with a summary and lessons learned.
Introduction
Program assessment, quality assurance, and continuous improvement have become essential elements of the accreditation process. National higher education associations, such as The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, mandate ongoing evaluation and assessment as a “core component” of the institution.1 The Commission further noted the “need to create a culture of evidence2” based on quality improvement principles to drive institutional assessment.
Some institutions still struggle when it comes to meeting the assessment standards even after years of effort by regional and programmatic accrediting agencies to improve the assessment process3. Assessment measures should correspond as closely as possible to “real world” student experiences. Assessment plans should seek to answer the following: - Are our students learning what we think we are teaching? - How do we know our program is meeting its objectives for student learning? - What are the indicators that our program is effective? - Can we find areas for improvement in our degree program?4
There are numerous step-by-step or phase models of assessment that help address the questions that should be answered in this process. Two examples are illustrated. Sarapin5 recommends a five phase assessment program comprised of: (1) Review program goals and objectives, (2) Identify student outcomes, (3) Validate student outcomes, (4) Administer assessment instruments, and (5) Revise program, revise courses, revise assessment methods. Strong et al.6 developed an assessment model with the following steps: (1) Agree on the mission of the program, (2) Identify the program outcomes, (3) Articulate the outcomes and the curriculum, (4) Brainstorm, evaluate and select appropriate measures of student learning for each outcome, (5) Develop an assessment plan for collecting the data, (6) Collect and analyze data which documents student achievement of these outcomes, (7) Use data to improve curriculum and program processes to improve student learning, and (8) Communicate results of outcomes assessment process.
“Proceedings of the 2006 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2006, American Society for Engineering Education”
Boser, R., & Stier, K. (2006, June), Outcome Assessment And Accreditation Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--252
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