CONNECTING DOTS AND SEEING THE WHOLE: OUTCOME MAPS AS A NEXUS FOR DATA-BASED DECISION MAKING

National Institute on the Assessment of Adult Learning 2012

Yuerong Sweetland, PhD – Director of Assessment , Franklin University

Presentation Overview

Why What Process and Template Challenges

Sustainability Ownership

Questions & Answers

Background (2)

www.guy-sports.com

Definition: Outcome Mapping

“…a two-dimensional data recording tool that facilitates the assignment of…outcomes… to core program courses… while identifying the level at which the outcomes are addressed in each course (at the intersection of columns and rows).”

Veltri, Natasha F.; Webb, Harold W.; Matveev, Alexei G.; Zapatero, Enrique G. (2011, March 22). Curriculum mapping as a tool for continuous improvement of IS curriculum The Free Library. (2011). Retrieved May 22, 2012 from http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Curriculum mapping as a tool for continuous improvement of IS...-a0257434962

Why Mapping?

Curriculum evaluation and improvement Who is doing what Alignment with goals Effectiveness and efficiency

Facilitating teaching and learning

Who Benefits?

• Scope, sequence, balance• Coherence• Gap

Program

• Interpret assessment findings

• Accreditation documentation

Assessment &

Accreditation

• Faculty• Students• Staff (SLC, Advisors)

Communication between and among

Stakeholders

Status: National

“Far too many institutions have established learning outcomes …. without ensuring that these goals are continuously mapped to, and reinforced by, the teaching and learning process throughout the curriculum ….” Peter Ewell (2009), Assessment, Accountability,

and Improvement: Revisiting the Tension.

Status: Franklin University

Franklin University Centralized academic model Challenges

Franklin University Outcome Map Template 

Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Outcome 3 Outcome 4

Course 1

Course 2

Other experiences (1) (e.g., exams, internships)

Other experiences (2)

Key: "I" = Introduced; "R" = Reinforced; "A" = Assessment Evidence Collected

Levels of Connection

• First time an outcome is introduced (e.g. Remembering, understanding)

Introduced

• Applying• Analyzing• Evaluating• Creating

Reinforced

Mapping Process

Draft Maps

Gather & Analyze Evidence

Discussion

Make Improvem

ent

Challenges: Sustainability

Periodical update Outcomes Courses Connections

Established during the design stage LMS? CMS? AMS?

Challenges: Ownership

Faculty ownership Who collects and helps maintain maps

Assessment Office Institutional Research Office Institutional Effectiveness Office Accreditation Office

Questions or Comments?Dr. Yuerong Sweetland

Yuerong.sweetland@franklin.edu

Connecting dots and seeing the whole: Outcome maps as

a nexus for data-based decision making