Faculty Participate in WASC Assessment Workshop

ASCC Press Release Tuesday, September 28, 2010

ASCC Faculty Participate in WASC Assessment Workshop

By James Kneubuhl, ASCC Press Officer

To most of us, the word “assessment” simply means making a judgment or a estimation, but in the world of education, the word refers to a broad evaluation system crucial to achieving and maintaining standards of academic quality. “The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning,” wrote assessment expert Linda Suskie. “The context for assessment could be any type of activity designed to promote student learning, including academic programs, academic support services, or student affairs programs. Results from assessment can provide insights into student learning and help determine areas of strength and areas for specific improvements.”

As part of its stated goal of establishing a “Culture of Assessment,” the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) regularly holds assessment workshops designed to support institutions under its auspices. A group of eight faculty members from the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) recently returned from one such workshop held last weekend in Anaheim, California. The ASCC group included Sonny Leomiti of the Teacher Education Department, Siamaua Ropeti of the English Language Institute, Ionatana Fa’asavalu of Community & Natural Resources, Math instructor Tunufa’i Leiato, Michael Leau of the Trades & Technology Department, Criminal Justice instructor Dennis Fuimaono, Evile Feleti of the Samoan Studies Department, and Academic Counselor Mark Mageo.

Over two days, workshop participants explored the topics of Assessing General Education; Assessing the Major; Assessing the Co-Curriculum; Developing and applying rubrics; Analyzing student learning; and Improving curriculum and pedagogy through a sequence of assessment-related tasks which they can subsequently apply to their campus or program needs. Individuals from each participating institution worked as a team on their tasks, but also attended a variety of plenary and break-out sessions where they could gather information and share experiences with participants from other campuses.

Members of the ASCC group reported with enthusiasm on the content of the workshop. “I was intrigued that the emphasis in assessment is not so much on accreditation, although it is a crucial component, but on synthesized learning; pulling together of faculty and students to increase and support learning,” said Ropeti. “This synthesis increases connectivity of different courses, alignment of student learning outcomes, student engagement, and successful faculty repertoire. Assessment is not an isolated entity but an integrated element in the curriculum. Faculty in diverse departments at ASCC can utilize an assessment based curriculum to view a holistic mapping of their courses, develop outcomes that are relevant, initiate pertinent student evaluations, and finally close the loop at different levels. The essence of Assessment is simply to help students learn better and make sense out of what they’re learning.”

“The conference was excellent for us because we were exposed to information that will help us understand our constant involvement with assessment at ASCC,” recalled Feleti. “One concept introduced in the sessions was called ‘Open Space’ – It’s a space where teachers continuously hold assessment dialogue. We already do something similar here at ASCC, and I think those of us who attended the conference will propose to the Assessment Committee that we formalize an approach based on this concept. Other than that, we enjoyed listening to assessment experts like Dr. Fred Trapp speak on how we can improve the methodologies to assess ASCC by using the same assessment instruments utilized by other successful institutions.”

Leomiti , who served as the ASCC team leader at the workshop, explained the importance of institutions under WASC participating in this type of training. “Institutions that focus on student centeredness and learning centeredness are better positioned to help their students attain their educational objectives, goals, and outcomes,” he said. “The WASC theme for assessment is ‘Closing the Loop,’ which refers to the processes of gathering data on student learning and using it to define the best teaching practices, and to improve Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) at all levels of curriculum, instruction, and Institutional Planning, with emphasis on achieving the mission of the college. These workshops provide multiple approaches toward assessment, using a network of the best assessment practices from a variety of colleges and universities. I would highly recommend that all faculty members be given the opportunity to attend WASC assessment workshops.”

Those interested in finding out more about assessment resources can visit: http://www.accreditation.uci.edu/assess_resources.html.

ENDS

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