Learning assessment: planning where outcomes are measured

For each program outcome, which course assesses it early, which assesses it at the end, and with which rubric.

6 min read · For: Compliance officers, curriculum management

The curriculum map says where an outcome is taught. Learning assessment says where it is measured: for each program learning outcome, one or two courses where it is assessed early (formative) and one or two where it is assessed at the end (summative), plus the rubric used.

Building a plan

1. Pick the programThe list down the side shows every program with how far its plan has got — "Not started", or "1 of 4 PLOs planned".
2. For each outcome, choose the coursesFormative: assessed early, and summative: assessed at the end. The courses offered are the ones linked to the program, and the map tells you which ones already carry that outcome.
3. Choose the rubricFrom the rubrics the program has borrowed from the institution library. The same rubric can serve several outcomes and several programs — that is the point of a shared library.
4. Save the planAn outcome is only complete when it has formative courses, summative courses and a rubric; until then it says what is missing. Print friendly version produces the document a committee or an accreditor asks for.

The three counts at the top

PLOs with a complete plan

How much of the program is actually planned, out of all its outcomes.

Rubrics in use

How many distinct rubrics the plan draws on.

Assessments with results

How many of the planned assessments have come back from the LMS with student results. This is the number that turns a plan into evidence.