Overview

What is Assessment?

Assessment is a systematic collection, review, and use of information related to programs undertaken for the purpose of improving the program (Bresciani, Zelna, Anderson, 2006). Driven by a higher educator’s intellectual curiosity, assessment is a generative process which results in new theories about the way in which students learn or how our programs operate.

Therefore, assessment must be a continuous process which reflects upon these new theories. The reflective process of assessment is much more than just gathering and reporting about data. Using valid and reliable data to celebrate successes and make improvements is the purpose of assessment.

Assessment asks us to consider questions such as:

• What are we trying to do and why?
• What is my program supposed to accomplish and what can students do when they complete our program?
• What does a successful, effective program in my discipline look like?
• How well are we doing what we say we will do?
• How do we know?
• How do we use information to improve or celebrate success?
• Do the improvements we make to our programs really work?

View a graphic representation of the assessment process

(Maki, 2001)

» Continue to Assessment and Program Review