Creating Widespread Institutional Dialog

Buran Haidar, San Diego Miramar CollegeDianna Chiabotti, Napa Valley College

Why?

The Context of Student Learning in College

The entire college impacts student learning!

Higher Education Primary Role

Higher Education Primary Role

What?

Higher Education: What We Do

HOW?

Ongoing Parallel Processes

Evidence-informed

Self-evaluation

Self-reflective &

Dialogue

Modification of

Instruction, course,

assessment, or

Service

Improve quality of student learning

Student Learning

Student Success

Instruction & Services

Improve quality of Student Learning

Evidence-informed

Self-evaluation

Self reflective

& Dialogue

Modification of

Instruction or

Service

Accreditation

Standard II: Student Learning Programs & Services

A. Instructional Programs1. c.

The institution identifies student learning outcomes for

courses programs, certificates, and degrees; assesses

student achievement of those outcomes; and uses

assessment results to make improvements.

• II. 2. b.– The institution relies on faculty expertise…..to

identify competency levels and measurable

student learning outcomes for courses,

certificates, programs….and degrees.

• II. 2. f. The institution engages in ongoing,

systematic evaluation and integrated planning

to assure currency and measure achievement

of its stated student learning outcomes for

courses, certificates, programs including

general and vocational education, and degrees

. The institution systematically strives to

improve those outcomes …..

Brain Storming Activity (part 1)

• List as many of the “others” who have an impact on student learning in your institution

• Identify those with direct primary contact with the students- write their generic names on the provided cards

• Identify those who influence the interaction of the faculty and others responsible for student learning and for achieving the stated outcomes

Brain Storming Activity (part 2)

• Discuss how you would set incremental college-wide discussions, in a perfect world and with 20/20 hind sight.

• Develop a communication network and a mapping diagram

Brain Storming Activity (part 3)

• What gaps did you find?

• How might they be addressed?

According to the AAHE…

“Assessment fosters wider improvement when representatives from across the educational community are involved.”

ASCCC…

“Outcomes assessment is a process that should involve all appropriate participants at each level of the college, not just select groups or individuals.”

Including….

• Department/Discipline faculty• Part time faculty• Researchers • College Staff• Administration

Strategies for Dialog Need to Be

• Clear

• Simple

• Institution Wide

• Sustainable

Discipline

Faculty Staff

PT Faculty

Researcher

Admin.

Discipline

Faculty

Discipline Faculty to Discipline Faculty

• Usually the simplest level• Where:– Department meetings– Emails– Faculty teaching same class – conversations

• How?– Take notes and save in same location– Create email folder– Log phone conversations

Across Disciplines

• Critical if– Linked by prerequisites/corequisites

• Identify which disciplines need to talk• Where and How can this happen?