Examples of Assessment Tools from BSC and Beyond

Capstone Course:
BSC Philosophy Department, capstone course syllabus

Course-Embedded Assessment:
Physics at BSC

Standardized Tests:
California Critical Thinking Skills Test, http://www.insightassessment.com/test-cctst.html
Description by Peter Facione from the SydneyPLUS WebOPAC website. "The instrument is a survey of one's critical thinking dispositions: the extent to which a person possesses the dispositions of the ideal critical thinker. It consists of 75 statements and is based on a 6-point Likert-type rating scale with response options ranging from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree.' The statement prompts express familiar opinions, beliefs, values, expectations, and perceptions.There are eight scores with seven sub-scales: truth-seeking, openmindedness, analyticity, systematicity, self-confidence, inquisitiveness, and cognitive maturity. The survey is intended for use at the college level but can be used successfully with high school students, nurses, and other occupational and adult groups. The instrument takes about 15 to 25 minutes to complete. It can be used to assess attitudes toward thinking logically, evaluation of groups and programs, research, and personnel development and management training." See also descriptions of Forms A and B used in the test.

Locally Developed Tests:
English Placement Test from California State University
English Placement Test at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mathematics Placement Test at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Portfolio Evaluation:
Alverno College Digital Diagnostic Portfolio, http://ddp.alverno.edu/index.html
The DDP is meant to assist students to follow their learning through their college years. It is meant to help students process the feedback they receive from faculty and others and see patterns in their academic work. Hopefully this will increase their engagement and independence in their learning. The site provides FAQs, a slide show, and a demonstration.

Pre-test/Post-test Evaluation:
Astronomy Diagnostic Test (e-mail Professor Martina Arndt for a copy)

This is a standardized, multiple choice test to assess content knowledge in astronomy. It is administered by the BSC Physics Department before and after students take the Astronomy course. The test does not count toward student grades. The performance is compared to that of students at other institutions. This diagnostic test was developed for undergraduate, non-science majors taking their first astronomy course by the multi-institutional Collaboration for Astronomy Education Research (CAER).

The test is free of charge but is not to be altered in any way, questions are not to be left out, questions are not to be removed and placed on course quizzes or exams, and the test items are not to be distributed to students in case the items find their way into "student files." In exchange for using the ADT, the authors respectfully request that faculty submit scores to the national database.

Student Self-Efficacy Surveys:
"Learning Outcomes: Comparing Student Perceptions of Skill Level and Importance," Journal of Marketing Education, 24(3): 203-218.
Charles R. Duke, Clemson University, description in Library online database
Abstract: "Presents a study that discusses the process used for developing learning outcomes and the illustrative analysis of student perceptions as one step in the process of implementing a learning outcomes approach to curricular design. Illustration of a potential method of applying the analysis of student perception within the evaluation process; Methodology that can improve the faculty's understanding of the students' feeling about the program; Performance evaluation approaches."

Student Satisfaction Surveys:
Adrian Tinsley Program survey of summer research program.

MSCA Student Information Questionnaire on Departmental Advising, http://www.bridgew.edu/fac_eval_forms/APPENDIX%20H.pdf

Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory, https://www.noellevitz.com/Our+Services/Retention/Tools/Student+Satisfaction+Inventory/
Sample available at https://www.noellevitz.com/Our+Services/Retention/Tools/Student+Satisfaction+Inventory/Samples.htm
The Student Satisfaction Inventory measures student satisfaction and priorities, showing how satisfied students are as well as what issues are important to them.

Student Attitudinal Surveys:
BSC Psychology Department Survey

Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) measures, among other things, student values, attitudes and goals. For an example of the survey, see http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/PDFs/CSS_survey_2004.pdf. Results for Bridgewater students are at http://www.bridgew.edu/Depts/IR/CIRP_Summary.pdf.

Alumni Surveys:
BSC Program Review alumni survey
Career Services surveys

Employer Surveys:
Tennessee Tech University engineering employer survey

Curriculum Analysis:
BSC Anthropology program curriculum analysis

Last Modified: June 5, 2008