Below is a sample of assessment resources for college undergraduate literature classes and programs.
From this research and from discussion with my colleagues, my understanding of assessment for undergraduate literature programs/classes is as follows:
Step 1: Establish/Review/Revise learning outcomes (aka program goals and mission)
Step 2: Create a “curriculum map” that keys program and/or college learning outcomes to individual courses (samples below)
Step 3: Create an assessment plan with tools to measure student progress in the learning outcomes; the plan may take a narrative form and/or be keyed to standard matrix. Generally the matrix has a vertical column listing the program’s learning outcomes and a horizontal column listing the related assessment activities/methods; assessment outcomes; and plan for continued assessment related to each learning outcome. For any given semester or academic year, the assessment plan usually isolates 1 or 2 learning outcomes for study over a set period of time.
Step 3 tools to measure student progress in literature courses often include:
- portfolio assessment
- pre/post content and/or writing tests
- pre/post paper/writing sampling and evaluation with rubrics
- student exam and/or paper archives from various core courses with assessment rubrics
Assessment of student learning may be in addition to or related to the assessment of other elements of a program (e.g., faculty retention, student retention and graduation rates, assessment of strategic goals, curriculum assessment, etc.).
Please let me know if there are resources you would suggest. Tweet me @drkj or email me: kristinjacobson at Stockton dot EDU.
Assessment Standards and Resources
- NCTE Standards: http://www.ncte.org/standards/assessmentstandards
- ADE Reports and Resources: https://www.ade.mla.org/Resources/Reports-and-Other-Resources
- Context for Success: The following link contains several scholarly articles that frame the issues we now confront when attempting to assess the effectiveness of our institutions http://www.hcmstrategists.com/contextforsuccess/
Example Curriculum Maps:
- Goucher College: http://www.goucher.edu/x30954.xml (connects program and college)
- SUNY Fredonia: http://www.fredonia.edu/campusassessment/fredassmt/pdf/CM_English.pdf
Links to Literature Program and Department Assessment Resources:
- Indiana University South Bend: includes goals, rubrics, and assessment reports https://www.iusb.edu/english/assessment/index.php
- Kansas State University English Department: http://www.k-state.edu/english/assess/index.html
- West Chester University English Department: final assessment tools http://www.wcupa.edu/_academics/sch_cas.eng/undergrad/FinalAssessmentsfortheBAandBSEdinEnglish.asp
- Gallaudet University English Department: outcomes and assessment tools http://www.gallaudet.edu/English/Outcomes_and_Assessment_Tools.html
- University of CA-Riverside English Department: overview of assessments and outcomes http://english.ucr.edu/undergraduates/learning_assessments_outcomes.html
- University of Arizona English Department: includes overview; outcomes; activities, findings and changes; rubrics in PDF form http://assessment.arizona.edu/hum/English%20Undergrad
- Duke University also lists assessment resources by discipline: http://assessment.aas.duke.edu/Woosterresourcesbydiscipline.html
Assessment Resources (fee based)
- ADE-MLA Consultancy Service: https://www.ade.mla.org/Resources/ADE-MLA-Consultancy-Service
- Better Assessment: http://betterassessment.com/default.aspx
Stockton Literature Program’s Goals (learning outcomes): http://wp.stockton.edu/literature/about-2/mission-statement/program-goals/
Stockton College’s Essential Learning Outcomes:
adapting to change
communication skills
global awareness
creativity and innovation
critical thinking
ethical reasoning
information literacy and research skills
program competence
quantitative reasoning
teamwork/collaboration