Student Learning Outcomes at PCC

Adapted from a presentation to the PCC Board of Trustees in 2007

In the beginning. . .

there were SLOs

Then Kay went to a conference in North Carolina

and

WOW!

We have

SLOs

SLOs

Overarching specific observable characteristics

Developed by local faculty

Allow faculty to determine or demonstrate

evidence that learning has occurred

Broad statements of intent or vision that are observable or measurable

Working with the 2002 Accreditation Standards: the Faculty’s Role ASCCC, Standards and Practices Committee 2004-05

College Strategic Directions and Goals include SLOs (beginning in 2004)

Goal: Instruction, Student Services, and the Academic Senate will begin developing and implementing SLOs to promote student success.

Goal: College-wide SLO Steering Committee will guide development of SLOs and piloting of baseline assessment of such SLOs.

3-year plan to develop course level SLOs in each division, 1/3 of courses each year – we are near the goal.

We started with course SLOs, then Institutional level SLOs and now program-level SLOs

PCC’s SLO Organization College-wide SLO Steering CommitteeCollege-wide SLO Steering Committee

Shared governance Division Council

Instructional divisions – deans and faculty Academic Senate

Committees Senate Board approval of SLO policies and procedures

SLO Resource Center (aka: SLO ARC Student Learning Outcomes and Assessment Resource Center

College-wide SLO Steering Committee Co-chairs:

Jackie Jacobs, Vice-President of Instructional Services, Lisa Sugimoto, Vice-President of Student and Learning Services, Kay Dabelow, President of the Academic Senate

Members: shared governance committee

Faculty appointed by the Academic Senate: includes relevant committee chairs (C&I, Faculty Development, SLO, and faculty representatives from SLO Division Council;

Classified representative(s);

Administration representatives: includes Division Deans and support administrators (e.g. IPRO, Academic Support, Enrollment, CTE)

Associated Students representative;

Role of the College-wide SLO Steering Committee: Review SLO policies and implementation procedures

recommended by the Academic Senate for possible implementation

Develop SLO policies and implementation procedures in accordance with the college’s shared governance process

Solicit funding and support to sustain SLOs planning and development

Communicate progress and SLO institutional needs to the SLO Division Council, the college president, College Coordinating Council, and the college Board of Trustees

Assure SLO development and assessment process is consistent with the Accreditation standards

Address and resolve issues that arise in support of the College’s SLO process

An ongoing dialog continually informs this process

SLO Division CouncilMembers : Division Deans and Faculty members

from each Instructional Division, including Library and Counseling

  Co-Chairs:   a division dean and a faculty currently, our Health Sciences Division dean and a Visual Arts and Media Studies Division faculty.

Meets monthly

Role of the SLO Division Council Inform SLO Steering Committee on issues that

relate to the SLO development and assessment process

Communicate SLO Steering Committee policies and procedures to faculty

Provide faculty support relative to the SLO development and assessment process

Promote the activities of the SLO Steering Committee and SLO Resource Center

Support the integration of  institutional SLOs with program and course SLOs

[Encourage dialog between and within divisions]

Academic Senate

Faculty survey about SLOs

Creating and expanding dialogue: faculty workshops on SLOs and assessment

(recordings available in the Media Center

Co-sponsor of Summer Institute and retreats

Developed Institutional SLOs

Developing Resources:

SLO webpage; SLO newsletter

Academic Senate Committees working on SLOs

Educational Policies     Faculty Development   Vocational Education  Curriculum & Instruction Student Learning Outcomes Committee

SLO Resource Team

Institutional Level SLOs1. Communication: Use language and non-verbal modes of

expression appropriate to the audience and purpose.2. Cognition: Use critical thinking skills to analyze, synthesize,

and evaluate ideas and information.3. Information Competency: Utilize research skills necessary to

achieve educational, professional, and personal objectives. 4. Social Responsibility: Demonstrate sensitivity to and respect

for others and participate actively in group decision making. 5. Personal Development: Demonstrate self-management,

maturity, and growth through practices that promote physical,     mental, and emotional well-being.

Approved by Academic Senate, 11/7/05, the Student Learning Outcomes Steering Committee 12/1/05 and the Board of Trustees July 19, 2006

Institutional Level SLO 3. Information Competency: Utilize research skills

necessary to achieve educational, professional, and personal objectives. Examples:

Information Literacy: Use print materials, personal communications, observations, and electronic media to locate, retrieve, and evaluate information. Understand the ethical, social and legal issues surrounding the use of information.

Technological Competency: Apply technology effectively to locate, interpret, organize and present information.

Research Proficiency: Conduct research and present findings effectively.

Timeline (Overview) 2004

Spring: College introduced to Huba and Freed’s book Learner-centered Assessment On College Campuses : Shifting The Focus From Teaching To Learning.

Fall: SLO organization established; initial SLO meeting (Steering Committee and Division Council) held in December

2005 SLO Steering Committee meets monthly Retreat for instructional deans Faculty survey about SLOs;

Lunch & Learn workshops; division discussions and SLO retreats;

Summer Institute for faculty and instructional deans held at Kellogg West

SLO and Accreditation Timeline developed

2005

Discipline faculty select two to three courses for

SLO development and implementation

Program Review process encompasses SLOs

Institutional SLOs approved

Steering Committee recommends:

Position of SLO coordinator(s)

SLO relationship to C & I (Flow chart)

2006 - 2008 Continue development of course level

SLOs Steering Committee recommendations

reviewed/taken to College Coordinating Council

SLO Resource Center funded through PFE Process of development and

implementation continues through 2008

2006 - 2008 Continue developing SLOs – all levels

SLO Resources Website created

Faculty SLO workshops by and for PCC Faculty presenters

SLO Newsletter for faculty

Semester-long SLO/WAC workshops to prepare faculty “mentors” for each division

Half-day Division SLO workshops

Flex Days -Faculty and College-wide Spring 2007 faculty flex day

Focus on developing SLOs and assessment Distributed draft

Guidelines for Writing Student Learning Outcomes Included evening program for adjuncts

Fall 2007 Campus wide flex day focus teaching & learning controversial 

Spring 2008 Campus wide flex day Focus on assessment and developing rubrics to assess

course and program SLOs

Student and Learning Services Involvement of the Area Piloting SLOs in Counseling services and

courses Discussion of how support services fit with

SLOs Co-curricular outcomes Support Services Outcome (SSOs)

What’s Next eLumen

college purchases eLumen assessment software Small group of Faculty pilot e-lumen Spring 2008 Implementation in Fall 2008

Assessment of SLOs – closing the loop Relationship to grading Outcomes-based grading

Accreditation – meeting the requirements and benefiting from the process