How to Select the Right Assessment Tool

Madison, Wis.—Feb. 14 — Although developing your own instruments to assess student learning has its advantages, sometimes it makes more sense to use existing tools created by outside publishers, says Linda Suskie, executive associate director of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

But using an outside instrument doesn’t absolve the department or program from doing some of its own footwork, said Suskie during the February 14 online seminar “Choosing a Published Instrument to Assess Student Learning.”

For example, departments or programs must ask the following questions to determine whether a published instrument suits their needs:

• Does the instrument’s stated purpose match our philosophy?
• Do the instrument’s objectives match our goals and what we teach?
• Do suggested uses of the results match our needs?
• When was the instrument published, and is it current?

Suskie also gave participants additional questions they can ask when evaluating an instrument’s

• practicality
• possible cultural bias
• validity
• reliability

If you missed the February 14 seminar and would like to order a transcript or CD of the event, visit http://www.magnapubs.com/catalog/cds/599665-1.html.

For more information, please contact David Burns, publisher, Magna Publications, Inc., at 608-227-8109 or dburns@magnapubs.com.