Assessment Instruments and Methods

Direct Assessment

Advantages: Requires students to demonstrate knowledge; Provides the data that directly measures achievement of expected outcomes
Course Level: Assignments; Exams and quizzes; Term papers and reports; Research projects; Observations of field work; Artistic performances and product development
Program Level: Capstone projects, senior theses, exhibits or performances; Pass rates or scores on licensure, certification or subject area tests; Student publications or conference presentations; Employer, Co-op and internship supervisor ratings of student performance
Institutional Level: Performance on tests of writing, critical thinking or general knowledge; Explicit self-reflections on what students have learned related to institutional programs

Advantages: Easy to administer; Asks student to reflect on their learning; Provides clues about what could be assessed directly
Course Level: Course evaluations; Percent of class time spent in active learning; Student hours spent on service learning, homework and activities related to the course; Grades that are not based on explicit criteria
Program Level: Focus group interviews; Course enrollment information; Department or program review data; Job placement; Employer or alumni surveys; Student perception surveys; Graduate school placement rates
Institutional Level: Surveys of student perceptions or self-report of activities; Studies that examine patterns and trends of course selection and grading; Annual reports that include institutional benchmarks

Rubrics are typically used with assessments that are subjective rather than objective, such as presentations and term papers.