Assessment Recommendations

Use the same syllabus for all sections of a course.

Make sure the learning objectives are listed on the syllabus.

Make sure the learning objectives match those on file at the Core office; if they don't, you either need to change the course or change the objectives that are on file.

Make sure that the statements on course policies are consistent with the guidelines in the student handbook and employee handbook.

Make sure that there is a statement of academic honesty on the syllabus (especially regarding plagiarism).

Once the course objectives are established, figure out what kinds of assignments or exams or projects would assess students' grasp of the course objectives. (i.e., create assignments that relate to the objectives, rather than assigning things that address only one objective, or that in fact do not relate at all to the objectives. Don't assign a report on an artist just for the sake of making students write; rather, tailor your assignments to help students grasp one or more of the objectives).

Figure out how to tell if your students have learned what you were trying to teach them-how will understanding or skill manifest itself? You must be able to measure student learning, whether quantitatively or qualitatively.

Decide whether you're going to collect data from all students, or from a random sampling, and how you will make it quantitative.

Run your ideas by Jim Allen, Director, University Core Curriculum, to see if they make sense. Call 453-3466 or email jsallen@siu.edu.