GettingStartedWithTaskstream
LoginandOrientation
InordertologintoTaskstream:
1. LogintoSCHOLAR.
2. Navigatetothe"Employees"tabandselectthe"EmployeeResources"menuoption
(seeFigure1).
3. Clickthe"OpenTaskstream"link.
OncetheTaskstreamportalislaunched,youwillbeatthemainlandingpage(seeFigure2).
Fromhere,youcanseeifyouhaveanymessages,reviewthegeneralannouncements,and
accessanyavailableWorkspaces.
Figure1
EditingWork Toeditworkand/orinputinformation:
1. Clickthe“CheckOut”buttontounlocktheworkforediting(seeFigure3).
2. Makechangestotheappropriatesection.
3. Clickthe“CheckIn”buttonwhenyouarefinished(itwillbeintheexactsameplaceas
the“CheckOut”button).
Figure3
Figure2
SubmittingData Whenyouarefinishedwithasection,youcansubmityourworkbydoingthefollowing:
1. Ensurethatallinformationisaccurate(youcannotchangedataonceithaspassed
review).
2. Ensurethatallrequiredareashavebeencheckedin.
3. Clickthe“Submission&ReadReviews”tababovetheeditingpane.
4. Submittheappropriatesectionbyclickingthe“SubmitWork”button(seeFigure4).
Figure4
ReviewingData
Ifyouareassignedareastoreview,youcanreviewsubmitteddatabydoingthefollowing:
1. LogintoTaskstreamandseethenotificationonthelandingpageindicatingareasare
availableforreview.
2. Clickthenotification.
3. Clicktheyellow“Review”buttonfortheareayouwanttoreview.
4. Taskstreamwillopentwowindows:ontheleft,thecontentforreview,ontheright,the
rubricforsubmittingfeedback(seeFigure5).
5. Clicktheappropriateboxesforeachareaoftherubric.Commentstypedinthe
“CommentsforthisCriterion”boxwillbevisibletotheoriginalsubmitter.Comments
typedinthe“ForAdminUse”boxwillonlybevisibletoOIER.
6. Decidewhetherthesubmittedinformationmeetsrequirementsandselecteither
“MeetsRequirement”or“DoesNotMeet.”Includespecificinformation.Ifanyareaof
therubricscoresa“0–Developing,”thenthesubmittedareadoesnotmeet
requirements.
7. Dependingontheselectiononthepreviousstep,selecteithertheoptiontosendthe
areabackforrevisionortheblue“MarkasFinal”optiontosendtoOIER.Eventhough
theoptionispresent,donotselectthegreen“MarkasFinal”option.
FacultyCredentials Allfaculty,regardlessofdepartment,rank,orfull/parttimestatus,mustupdatetheirfaculty
profileeveryyear.Inordertoaccessandeditthisdata:
1. LogintoTaskstream
2. Onthelandingpage,selectthe“FacultyCredentials”tab.
3. Editinformationasnecessary(seeFigure6).
Thefollowingareasmustbekeptuptodate:
• PersonalInformation
o Title/Position
o Honorific
o Suffix
o Résumé
Figure5
o FacultyRank(adjunctsselectOther)
o TenureStatus
o TeachingStatus
o HighestDegreeHeld
• AcademicDegrees
• ProfessionalCertifications
• ProfessionalDevelopment
• ProfessionalMemberships
• AwardsandHonors
• ProfessionalExperience
• ConsultingandPaidService
• Publications
• Presentations
• Service
Figure6
AssessmentCalendarThefollowingdatescorrespondtothedeadlinesfordeliverablesoftheImprovementCycle.
Becausethisyearinvolvesamigrationofprior-yeardatatoTaskstream,therearemore
deadlinesthantherewillbeinthefuture.However,becauseprior-yeardatahasalreadybeen
collected,themigrationissimplyamatterofcopyandpaste.
NotethatthedeadlineslistedareReviewdeadlines,whichmeansthatyoursubmittedcontent
musthavebeenreviewedbytheappropriatedean,director,orotherpersonnelbythe
deadline.Consultwithyourreviewerstoworkoutanagreementregardingthetimingofyour
initialsubmissions.Yourinitialsubmissionasanassessorwillneedtobebeforethebelow
deadlines.
RequiredItem ReviewDeadlineforDeans/VicePresidents15-16DataCopiedintoTaskstream 8/20/1615-16UseofResults 8/20/1616-17StandingRequirements 9/15/1616-17AssessmentPlan 9/15/1616-17FacultyDataDue 10/1/1616-17AssessmentFindings 4/1/1716-17ImprovementPlan 4/15/1716-17UseofResults 4/15/17
Appendix:ElementsoftheYearlyAssessmentProcessNomatterwhichdepartmentyourepresent,yourversionoftheyearlyImprovementCycleisbasedonthesamefour-stepprocessthatinteractswithasetofStandingRequirements.StandingRequirementsTheStandingRequirementsencompassthestaticelementsfortheorganizationalareathatarenotexpectedtochangefromyeartoyear.Asneededandappropriate,elementsfromtheStandingRequirementscanbeimportedintothecomponentsoftherelevantyearlyImprovementCycle.MissionStatementEverydepartmentshouldhaveaMissionStatement,whichisincludedasaStandingRequirement.TheMissionStatementshouldsummarizethegoalsandintentsofthedepartment.OutcomesDependingonthetypeofdepartment,thisStandingRequirementmaybelabeledeither"LearningOutcomes"or"AdministrativeOutcomes."Regardless,itisherethatpersonnelcaninputanddescribetheoutcomesforthedepartment.Insteadofre-enteringoutcomeseveryyear,theOutcomessectionofStandingRequirementsfunctionsasasortof"outcomebank,"allowingpersonneltoimportselectedoutcomesintotheyearlyImprovementCycleasnecessary.OutcomesthatareenteredandmeanttobeutilizedforaspecificamountoftimecanbearchivedintheStandingRequirementsoncetheyarecompleted.Outcomesarethekeyvectorintyingtheimprovementactivitiesofvariousdepartmentsandprogramstotheinstitution-wideEducationalPrinciplesandStrategicThemes.Thefollowingisalist,sortedbydepartmenttype,ofrequirementsfortheconstructionofoutcomes:
• AcademicProgramso Musthaveatleast6SLOso Inadditiontothe6SLOs,musthaveaWritingintheMajorSLOo MustassessallSLOsatleastonceduringeveryProgramReviewcycleo MustassesstheWritingintheMajorSLOeveryyearo Iftheprogramhasacapstonecourse,thecoursemustbethefocusofadiscrete
SLO(canbeoneofthebase6)o SLOsmustrepresentallEducationalPrinciples,exceptforEducationalPrinciple3
(whichrelatestothegeneraleducationcurriculumandishandledbyGEAC)o SLOsmusttargetactivityoutsideoftheGeneralEducationcurriculum
• AcademicDepartments
o Mustassessatleast3outcomeseveryImprovementCycle
o Mustcontainamixtureofregularprocessoutcomesandadhocimprovementoutcomes
o EveryoutcomemustmaptoatleastoneStrategicTheme,andasmanyStrategicThemesaspossiblemustberepresented
• Colleges/Schoolso Mustassessatleast3outcomeseveryImprovementCycleo Mustcontainamixtureofregularprocessoutcomesandadhocimprovement
outcomeso EveryoutcomemustmaptoatleastoneStrategicTheme,andasmanyStrategic
Themesaspossiblemustberepresented• AdministrativeDepartments
o Mustassessatleast3outcomeseveryImprovementCycleo Mustcontainamixtureofregularprocessoutcomesandadhocimprovement
outcomeso EveryoutcomemustmaptoatleastoneStrategicTheme,andasmanyStrategic
ThemesaspossiblemustberepresentedCurriculumMap(AcademicProgramImprovementCycleonly)Allacademicprogramsmustmaintainanup-to-datecurriculummap,whichdemonstrateshowthecoursesinaprogramalignwiththeprogram'soutcomes.AssessmentPlanTheAssessmentPlanisthefirstofthefourstepsfortheyearlyImprovementCycle.AssessorsutilizetheAssessmentPlantoindicatetheoutcomesthatwillbestudiedfortheyear,aswellascreatetheircorrespondingmeasures.TheAssessmentPlanincludesthefollowingfields:OutcomeTheassessorutilizestheTaskstreaminterfacetoselectthedepartment'soutcomesetandselectthespecificoutcomesthatwillbeassessedoverthecourseoftheyear.MeasuresTheassessorcreatesmeasuresandassociatesthemwiththeselectedoutcomes.Eachoutcomemusthaveatleastonemeasure,andmultiplemeasurescanbeassociatedwithanoutcome.Measurescontainthefollowingfields:
Title:Thetitleofthemeasure.Measuretitlesshouldnotbenumbered,andthetitleshouldcorrespondwiththemeasure,nottheoutcome.Forexample,tomeasureanoutcometitled“StudentSatisfaction,”apossiblemeasuretitlecouldbe“SatisfactionSurvey.”Whiletheexampleoutcomereferstotheabstractconceptofstudentsatisfaction,themeasuretitlereferstothetangiblemethodofmeasuringachievementoftheoutcome.MeasureType/Method:Thetypeofthemeasure.Thisisadrop-downlistthatincludesvarioustypesofdirectandindirectmeasures.Details/Description:Furtherinformationaboutthemeasure,includingdetailsofitsimplementationanddistribution.AcceptableTarget:Thepass/failparameterforalevelofeffectivenessthatisconsideredtobeadequate.Thisisthebasicthresholdthatdetermineswhethertheoutcomeisbeingaccomplished.IdealTarget:Thepass/failparameterforanaspirationallevelofeffectiveness.ImplementationPlan(timeline):Thedetailsofwhenthevariouscomponentsofthemeasurewillbeexecuted.AssessingPersonnel/CourseSections:Detailsoverwhatpersonnelwillbeassistingwiththeassessment,aswellasalistofcoursesectionsthatwillbeassessed.Attachments:UploadeddocumentstoprovideadditionaldetailandcontexttotheMeasure.AssessmentFindingsThenextstepoftheImprovementCycleisthereportingofAssessmentFindings.Findingsarereportedforeverymeasureestablishedinthepreviousphase.FindingsAfindingsentryiscreatedandlinkedtoeverymeasure.Everymeasureonlyneedsonefindingsentry.Thefindingsentryhasthefollowingfields:SummaryofFindings:Anarrativestatementthatprovidestherawdataandstateswhethertheacceptableandidealtargetshavebeenmet.Itiscriticalthatyougiveexactnumbers/countsANDpercentages.Howyouprovidethesenumbersmayvary,buttheinformationmustbepresent.Forexample,“75%(75outof100)”and“75%(N=100)”arebothvalidwaystopresentalltheneededdata.
Recommendations:Abroadoverviewofwhatactionstheassessorbelievesarenecessaryinordertoimproveorsustainperformance.Recommendationscanbeaimedathigheradministrativelevelsorserveasaprecursortoactionplans.Reflections/Notes:AnynecessaryinformationtocontextualizethedataorprovideinsightintotheassessmentprocessAcceptableTargetAchievement:Aradiobuttonselectionof"NotMet,""Met,"or"Exceeded"toindicatewhethertheacceptabletargetwasaccomplishedIdealTargetAchievement:Aradiobuttonselectionof"MovingAway,""Approaching,"or"Exceeded"toindicatewhethertheideatargetwasaccomplishedAttachments:UploadeddocumentstoprovideadditionaldetailandcontexttotheFindings.SpecialnoteonFindings:Itisanacceptedandrecommendedpracticetoremovetheresultsoffailingstudentsfromtheassesseddataset.Thequestiontheassessmentandimprovementprocessseekstoanswerishowcapablestudentswhocompleteourcurriculumareinaccomplishingthedesiredoutcomes.Sincestudentswhofailhavenotcompletedtherequirements,theyshouldnotbeincluded.However,intheinterestofdisclosure,allFindingsshouldincludethenumberofstudentswhodidnotcompletetherequirementsofthecoursebeingassessed.OverallRecommendationsTheOverallRecommendationsboxprovidesafinalplacetosummarizethebroadrecommendationstheassessorwantstopresent.Thisisahigher-leveloverviewoftherecommendationspresentedaspartofthefindingsitems.OverallReflectionSimilartotheOverallRecommendations,theOverallReflectionboxprovidesafinalplacetosummarizethebroadcontextualizinginformationtheassessorwantstopresent.Thisisahigher-leveloverviewoftherecommendationspresentedaspartofthefindingsitems.ImprovementPlanThethirdphaseoftheImprovementCyclebeginsthemostimportantworkoftheinstitutionaleffectivenessprocess:theImprovementPlan.Assessmentpersonnelmustreviewthefindingswiththeirdepartment.ThisPlanshowshowresultswillbeusedinaneffortforcontinuousimprovement.ThekeyitemoftheImprovementPlanistheAction.
ActionsLikeMeasures,Actionsaretieddirectlytothedepartment'sOutcomes.ActionsarealsoassociatedwithFindings.AnActionrepresentsanimprovementprocessthedepartmentwillimplementoverthecomingyear.WhiletheresultsofmostActionswillnotbeassessed,theimplementationoftheActionmustbecarefullydocumentedandlogged.EveryOutcomemusthaveatleastoneaccompanyingAction.MultipleActionsareencouraged,butActionsshouldalwaysbeinformedbytherelevantFindings.Thatis,improvementproceedingsshouldberespondingtotheactualdatagatheredoverthecourseoftheyear.Toensurethisisthecase,everyActionmustbelinkedtooneoftheOutcome'srecordedFindings.Forexample,ifaFindingshowsthatstudentsinamajorareenteringaseniorlevelcoursewithinsufficientknowledgeofthescientificresearchprocessthatisinhibitingaccomplishmentofaprogramoutcome,anassociatedActioncouldreadasfollows:“Emphasisonresearchmethodswillbeimplementedearlierintheprogramwithtargetedassignmentsin…”withalistingofthecoursestargetedfortheimplementation.Actionsconsistofthefollowingfields:ActionItemTitle:ThetitleoftheActionActionDetails:FurtherdetailanddescriptionofthenatureandscopeoftheActionImplementationPlan(timeline):AnoverviewofkeydatesregardingtheAction'simplementation.Morethanonedateshouldbeprovidedhere:adetailedimplementationplanconsistsofmultiplecheckpoints.Key/ResponsiblePersonnel:AlistingofindividualswhowillberesponsibleforfacilitatingtheActionMeasures:Alistingofclearpass/failparametersthatdeterminewhethertheActionwassuccessfullyimplemented.Note:thisisnotameasureoftheresultsoftheAction,itisameasureofwhethertheActionwasputintoplace.Forexample,intheaforementionedexample,anappropriatemeasurewouldbe“Researchpaperswithasignificantportionofthegradederivedfromappropriateusageofscientificresearchmethodswillbeimplementedinallofthefollowingclasses:…”,withalistingofthecoursestargetedfortheimplementation.Notethatthestudentscoresarenotapartofthemeasure;rather,whatisbeingmeasurediswhethertheimprovementplanhasbeenexecuted.BudgetApproval:IftheActionrequiresadditionalfunding,adescriptionofthebudgetrequestandjustificationgoeshere
BudgetRequestAmount:ThetotalamountrequestedfortheAction.Requestedamountsshouldberealistic.PriorityLevel:Adropdownlistwith"Low,""Medium,"and"High"selectionoptionsAttachments:UploadeddocumentstoprovideadditionaldetailandcontextfortheAction.UseofResultsThefinalphaseofthecycleallowsShortertoconfirmtheimplementationoftheImprovementActions.Thisphaseoccursduringthefollowingacademicyear,meaningthattheImprovementCycleoverlapsitselfeveryyear.ThekeyitemsoftheUseofResultsphaseareActionStatuses.Onthereportingdeadline,assessmentpersonnelmustprovideanActionStatusforeveryActionsubmittedduringtheprioracademicyear.Thismustalsobeaccompaniedbyanoverallsummaryoftheimplementations,whichclosesouttheImprovementPlancycle.ThroughouttheUseofResultsstep,youwillbeattributingoneActionStatustoeachActionyoucreatedintheImprovementPlanprocess.ActionStatusTheActionStatusmustbeattachedtoanAction,anditcontainsthefollowingparts:CurrentStatus:Adropdownlistwiththefollowingoptions:"NotStarted,""InProgress,""Completed,"and"NotImplemented."BudgetStatus:Adropdownlistwiththefollowingoptions:"Approved,""PendingApproval,""NotApproved,"and"Other."AdditionalInformation:InformationprovidedtocontextualizeandfurtherdescribethecurrentimplementationstatusoftheAction.NextSteps:DetaileddescriptionoffuturestepstoensurecontinuationandsuccessoftheimplementationoftheImprovement.StatusSummaryTheStatusSummaryispartofthefinalnarrativecomponentthatsumsuptheImprovementCycle.Init,theassessorgivesanoveralldescriptionandevaluationoftheimprovementprocessesasimplementedandinformedbytheyear'sFindings.
SummaryofNextStepsTheSummaryofNextStepsallowstheassessortoprovideafinaldescriptionandevaluationoftheneededactionstoensurethesuccessoftheimplementedimprovements.TheNextStepsnotonlyprovideinstitutionaldocumentationofthecontinuingeffortofimprovement,theyalsoalloweachdepartmenttodevelopandimproveitsfocusfortheupcomingyear.ConclusionDifferenttypesofdepartmentsmayseeminorvariationsofwhatkindofinformationisexpectedintheImprovementCyclephases,butthesamefour-stepprocessapplies.Overall,chairs,deans,anddirectorsmustkeepaclearpictureofthebroadgoalsofassessment:determiningwhattoassess,gatheringthedataandreportingthefindings,determininghowtoimproveinlightofthefindings,anddocumentingtheimprovement.Taskstreamwillprovidealldepartmentstheopportunitytodocumenttheircontributionstothegoalsoftheinstitutionatlarge,aswellasthemilestonestohittoensuretheprocessisrepeatableratherthanadhoc.