Resources
General Assessment Information | Presentations | Student Learning Outcomes | Bloom's Taxonomy
Surveys | Observation | Interviewing | Rubrics | Document Analysis / Review
Evaluations | Focus Groups | Data Analysis | Report Writing | General Information | Available Books
General Assessment Information
Selected Assessment Methods Grid. Includes a list of various assessment methods; a description, advantages, and disadvantages of each; and steps to implement a survey. (Excel)
The assessment process: From philosophy to implementation. PowerPoint presentation by Marilee Bresciani.
Guide for measuring outcomes at the meeting and after the meeting. (2001). Richard A. Krueger, Professor and Evaluation Leader, University of Minnesota Extension Service.
Analyzing and interpreting information. Provides information about reporting results, who should carry out the research, and what is included in a reseach report.
Implementing Outcomes-Based Assessment of Student Learning. PowerPoint presentation by Marilee Bresciani.
Committing to Quality. Guidelines for Assessment and Accountablity in Higher Education. (pdf)
Presentations
Annual Planning Training Presentation FY2011 (ppt) Power point presentation from FY2011 Annual Planning Training.
Annual Planning Training Presentation FY2008 (ppt) Power point presentation from FY2008 Annual Planning Training.
Benchmarking, Student Affairs Cabinet Retreat, July 2006 (pdf)
Assessment Next Steps, July 2006 (pdf)
Annual Planning Overview, Jan. 2005 (ppt)
Assessment for Student Learning, Jan. 2005 (pdf)
Direct Measures of Student Learning, Dec. 2010 (ppt)
Assessment 101, May 2011 (ppt)
Student Learning Outcomes
American Association of Higher Education. (2003). Nine principles of good practice for assessing student learning. Washington, DC: Author
American College Personnel Association. (1996). The student learning imperative: Implications for student affairs. Washington:, D.C.: Author
American College Personnel Association and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. (2004). Learning reconsidered: A campus wide focus on the student experience. [Online]. Available from www.myacpa.org/pub/documents/LearningReconsidered.pdf
Bliming, G., Whitt, E., & Associates. (1999). Good practice in student affairs: Principles to foster student learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Bresciani, M. (2011). Making assessment meaningful: What new Student Affairs professionals and those new to assessment need to know. National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment. [Online]. Available from http://www.learningoutcomesassessment.org/documents/ABStudentAffairs.pdf
Bresciani, M., Zelna, C., & Anderson, J. (2004). Assessing student learning and development: A handbook for practitioners. Washington, D.C.: NASPA.
Bresciani, M. (2001). NASPA NetResults: Writing measurable and meaningful outcomes. [Online]. Available from www.naspa.org
Maki, P. (2002). NASPA NetResults: Using multiple assessment methods to explore student learning and development inside and outside of the classroom. [Online]. Available from www.naspa.org
Bloom's Taxonomy
The three types of learning. Information about Bloom's Taxonomy, including cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains.
List of skills in Bloom's cognitive domain categories. Information about competence areas and skills using Bloom's Taxonomy.
Sample questions stems in Bloom's cognitive domain categories. Chart of competency areas from Bloom's Taxonomy, including sample questions stems for each verb listed.
Competency levels for Bloom's Taxonomy. Chart including competency levels from Bloom's Taxonomy, including related verbs, sample questions stems, potential activities and products, and IT activities.
Bloom's Taxonomy Revised. PowerPoint presentation explaining a revision of Bloom's Taxonomy.
Surveys
Improving student participation in Web surveys. William R. Molasso, Assistant Professor, Counseling, Adult and Higher Education. Northern Illinois University. "Ten tangible and practical tips to improve student participation in Web surveys."
Web surveys for assessment. William R. Molasso, Assistant Professor, Counseling, Adult and Higher Education. Northern Illinois University. "Exploring options to create Web surveys for student affairs assessment plans."
Survey design tips. Information about designing a survey questionnaire.
Questionnaire basics. Provides information about question development, as well as order, content, and wording of questions.
Setting up a survey. Provides an outline for the process of setting up a survey.
Survey do’s and don’ts. A .pdf booklet that contains various descriptions of terms used in surveys, as well as information regarding what to do/what not to do in the survey process.
Survey question development. Provides a basic description of qualities of good survey questions.
Observation
Observation as evaluation. Suggestions for utilizing observation as an evaluation tool.
Interviewing
Interviews as evaluation. Tips for conducting individual interviews.
Interview basics. Provides information about preparing for the interview, developing and sequencing questions, and carrying out an interview.
Rubrics
Rubrics in Student Affairs. General overview of using rubrics, including styles of rubrics, uses of rubrics, and outcomes measured through rubrics.
Document Analysis and Review
Document Analysis Overview. Planning your document analysis, including suggested uses and limitations.
One-Minute Evaluations
One-Minute Paper. Provides a description of how to administer a short assessment at the end of a class/presentation to assess student learning or presenter effectiveness.
Focus Groups
Focus group planning. Planning worksheets for conducting focus groups, presented by Richard A. Krueger of the University of Minnesota.
Focus group basics. Provides information about preparing for and conducting focus groups.
Data Analysis
Data analysis assistance. Provides information about consulting with an external, paid, data analyst from Statistical Counseling Services through the NIU Division of Statistics.
Report Writing
Report basics. Provides an overview of the fundamentals of report writing.
Basic report writing. Provides a basic overview of the contents of a report.
Beginning report writing. Provides a basic knowledge of report writing. This source is good for beginners to the process.
Intermediate report writing. A great source if you have a basic understanding of report writing. This site provides a quick overview of the writing process.
Reports for higher education. Provides an overview of the common sections of a research report, often made mistakes, with a focus on reports prepared for scholarly, peer-reviewed publication.
Reporting data. Provides a brief overview on reporting statistical data.
General Information: Available in the Student Affairs library, AL208:
Palomba, C., & Banta, T. (1999). Assessment essentials. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Upcraft, M., & Schuh, J. (1996). Assessment in student affairs. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Common missteps in assessment building blocks and how to avoid them (pdf)
Books available from Director, Planning & Assessment
Bresciani, M. J. (2006). Outcomes-based academic and co-curricular program review: A compilation of institutional good practices. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Cooper, James L., Robinson, Pamela & Ball, David. (Ed.). (2003). Small Group Instruction in Higher Education: Lessons from the Past, Visions of the Future. Stillwater, Oklahoma: New Forums Press.
Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. (2006). L. A. Dean (Ed.), CAS Professional Standards for Higher Educaiton (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Keeling, R. P. (Ed.). (2004, January). Learning Reconsidered 2: A campus-wide focus on the student experience.
Mager, Robert F. (3rd Edition). (1997). Preparing Instructional Objectives: A critical tool in the development of effective instruction. Atlanta, Georgia: CEP Press.