DESCRIPTION

Outcomes assessment at any level is an often dreaded, misunderstood, and misused process. Research shows that these are common issues in all levels of higher education, and span the globe. Professional development is one way to address perception of the assessment process. The instructor will share an assessment-focused professional development program that was piloted at her institution. It consists of 4 asynchronous modules, delivered online within Canvas. Formative assessments will be utilized throughout. A pre- and post- survey instrument will be utilized to be able to analyze changes in pre-course and post-course perceptions and knowledge of the assessment process.

Target Audience: Faculty Members

Individuals who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from the Center for Professional Development via the MCCB Catalog.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to

Participants will be able to define and discuss basic assessment terminology

Participants will recognize quality outcomes.

Participants will discuss challenges related to IE/assessment.

Participants will be able to explain the planning process of the institution.

Participants will demonstrate choosing appropriate measures, collection of data, and analysis of collected data.

COURSE FACILITATOR

Amber Nelms

Facilitator

Amber Nelms served as a faculty member in the Radiologic Technology program for 15 years at Northeast Mississippi Community College. While a faculty member, she served for many years on the Professional Development Committee at the institution, was a campus leader through the integration of iPads into the classroom (through a 1:1 iPad initiative), and served for 8 years as a peer-reviewer for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Through her programmatic accreditation experiences, she realized that there was a great need to assist both faculty and staff with working through the assessment process to make it more meaningful and manageable. When an opportunity presented itself to move into her new role as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness, she saw it as a challenge to help others with the assessment process across the institution. She has a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Student Personnel from the University of Mississippi and is currently a doctoral student in the Professional Studies/Higher Education program at Delta State University. She began in June 2019 as a member of the 11th cohort of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy. Her main research interests center around effective outcomes assessment for continuous improvement.