National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment

• NILOA 2013 National Survey of Chief Academic Officers
  5/17/2013

  The 2013 national survey of Chief Academic Officers and institutional assessment practice is currently out in the field. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey if you have received an invitation.  To see a copy of the survey, please click here. 
• The Little Assignment with the Big Impact: Reading, Writing, Critical Reflection, and Meaningful Discussion
  5/16/2013Geraldine Van Gyn in Faculty Focus writer Geraldine Van Gyn in Faculty Focus by Geraldine Van Gyn in Faculty Focus published by Geraldine Van Gyn in Faculty Focus
  A simple but effective assignment has the potential to get students thinking more critically about challenging reading assignments, and this can lead to greater student engagement in the classroom.
• Testing Out Vocational Tests
  5/15/2013Liz Koblyk in University Affairs writer Liz Koblyk in University Affairs by Liz Koblyk in University Affairs published by Liz Koblyk in University Affairs
  Vocational assessments can provide information for exploring career options, but since they only highlight part of a person's interests, university career centers must be careful not to rely solely on taking tests when helping students choose careers.
• HEQCO | Learning Outcomes: Lessons Learned and the Next Big Thing
  5/14/2013
  After working on a series of projects to examine assessment measures, HEQCO identified learning outcomes as the most fundamental element of quality assurance. They invited six institutions to join a consortium committed to the assessment of learning and cognitive skills.
• MOOCs and the Quality Question
  5/6/2013Ronald Legon in Inside Higher Ed writer Ronald Legon in Inside Higher Ed by Ronald Legon in Inside Higher Ed published by Ronald Legon in Inside Higher Ed
  A second generation of MOOCs is emerging aiming to address the issue of quality by integrating distance education with on-ground programs so students are able to receive feedback and other academic support services in order to be successful.
• Making the Best of Assessment
  5/6/2013Adam Kotsko in Inside Higher Ed writer Adam Kotsko in Inside Higher Ed by Adam Kotsko in Inside Higher Ed published by Adam Kotsko in Inside Higher Ed
  This author wonders if it is possible to develop an assessment system that demonstrates the value of educational programs instead of adopting numerical measurements to assess what students are learning.
• Community-College Accountability Measure Still Holds Policy-Making Potential
  5/3/2013Sara Lipka in The Chronicle of Higher Education writer Sara Lipka in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Sara Lipka in The Chronicle of Higher Education published by Sara Lipka in The Chronicle of Higher Education
  The Voluntary Framework of Accountability is aiming to measure community college students' progress and outcomes, and there is potential for the VFA to influence institutional improvement and policy on accountability.
• Assessing Assessment: Five Keys to Success
  5/2/2013Vickie Kelly in Faculty Focus writer Vickie Kelly in Faculty Focus by Vickie Kelly in Faculty Focus published by Vickie Kelly in Faculty Focus
  This author suggests five areas that should guide institutions when reviewing program assessment plans to ensure that assessment activities and reports actually produce change.
• New Issue of Assessment Update is Available Now
  5/1/2013
  The latest issue of Assessment Update: Progress, Trends and Practice in Higher Education for March/April 2013 is now available. Articles in this issue include Carolinda Douglass and Eric Niemi's "Including Students in Student Assessment," Mitchell Peterson and Amanda Gustafson's "Using Curriculum-Embedded Assessments of Student Learning: Establishing a Model for Internal Benchmarking," and Gary Pike's "Assessment Measures."
• Plans for Quality Assurance System for African Higher Education
  5/1/2013
  African nations have agreed to develop a system of quality assurance for higher education which will also include a framework for students that transfer among African universities.
• Designing and Coordinating a General Education Assessment Process
  4/30/2013

  The University of Illinois at Chicago was the focus of a case study to develop and implement a course-based general education assessment.  Click here to read the case study. 
• Competency-Based Education Advances with U.S. Approval of Program
  4/26/2013Marc Perry in The Chronicle of Higher Education writer Marc Perry in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Marc Perry in The Chronicle of Higher Education published by Marc Perry in The Chronicle of Higher Education
  With the U.S. Department of Education's approval to receive federal financial aid for students, Southern New Hampshire University's College for America program is moving forward to offer an associate degree based on demonstrating competencies instead of credit hours.
• Online-Learning Portal Allows Educators to Create Adaptive Content
  4/25/2013Jake New in The Chronicle of Higher Education writer Jake New in The Chronicle of Higher Education by Jake New in The Chronicle of Higher Education published by Jake New in The Chronicle of Higher Education
  Smart Sparrow, a new online-learning platform, gives educators the tools to design customized interactive content which allows for instant feedback and more personalized online learning for students.
• Big Disruption, Big Questions
  4/24/2013Paul Fain in Inside Higher Ed writer Paul Fain in Inside Higher Ed by Paul Fain in Inside Higher Ed published by Paul Fain in Inside Higher Ed
  A group of higher education associations, accreditors, and foundations are attempting to define a shared framework for competencies and whether they are established at the course level or across a curriculum in order to take the next step into competency-based education.
• NILOA April Newsletter Available
  4/23/2013
  Find out what's new with NILOA in addition to recent news items about learning outcomes assessment in this month's newsletter.
• Ontario Postsecondary System Performance
  4/23/2013
  A report released by HEQCO indicates that Ontario's postsecondary education system is efficient and accessible, but there is a lack of consensus on the definition of quality. This has prompted the need to focus on using learning outcomes as quality indicators.
• WASC 2013 Handbook of Accreditation
  4/22/2013
  WASC released a penultimate draft of their 2013 Handbook which includes a brief discussion of the DQP as a framework for institutions to convey the meaning of degrees.
• Taking on Accreditors and Faculty
  4/19/2013Ry Rivard in Inside Higher Ed writer Ry Rivard in Inside Higher Ed by Ry Rivard in Inside Higher Ed published by Ry Rivard in Inside Higher Ed
  A new Florida bill would allow any individual, organization or institution to create courses and seek accreditation status from Florida officials. This has many faculty members concerned about the transfer of instruction and curriculum evaluation to commercial organizations.
• More Than a Major
  4/18/2013

  Articles in The Chronicle and Inside Higher Ed highlight a survey conducted by AAC&U which found that employers are interested in a candidate's ability to demonstrate complex problem-solving skills and critical thinking more than the undergraduate major. 
• Teams Selected for ACRL Assessment in Action Learning Community
  4/17/2013
  The Association of College and Research Libraries has selected 75 institutional teams to participate in the Assessment in Action program. These campus teams will develop and implement a project that examines the impact of a library on student success as well as contributions to assessment activities.