Use of Student Learning Evidence
After annual assessment reports are completed, faculty receive a copy of the reports by email and in person at department meetings. During the department meetings, detailed notes are taken to record the department’s interpretations and their plans to incorporate results into curricular decisions and ways to support teaching.
The results of Columbia’s assessment efforts impact such areas as department curriculum, how exams and assignments are written, use of collaborative teaching, the use of rubrics, and faculty development events, among other areas.
For specific examples, evidence of student learning gathered through assessment efforts has impacted the following academic programs and departments:
- Panel assessments in American Sign Language led to adding opportunities and units on non-rehearsed spontaneous conversations throughout several courses and added requirement that students in ASL 1 and 2 see the Deaf tutors in the ASL Center to practice conversational skills.
- Assessment of student work, and the resulting conversation, initiated the bringing together of Advertising Art Direction and the rest of the Advertising program.
- In Dance, assessment activities affirmed that the department’s increase in West African training improved students’ physical skills overall and gave a significant number of students in the department a greater sense of belonging and excitement about their voice in dance, and led to further broadening of the Hip-Hop offerings in the department and made Hip-Hop I a requirement for all majors.
- In Business and Entrepreneurship, assessment of student performance in Practicum contributed to revisions for how student teams receive project funding, in order to put more emphasis on business and financial proposals.