What is academic assessment?
Academic assessment is a continuous improvement process with the intent to improve student learning. It is a systematic, data informed, process to review a degree program and evaluate student’s level of understanding of stated competencies. At the heart of Academic Assessment is ensuring students have the ability and skills expected from earning a MEZCOPH degree.
Why participate in academic assessment?
As a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Accredited College of Public Health, all MEZCOPH degree programs have stated competencies. Competencies are concepts and skills each degree program is meant to instill in the student. As part of CEPH accreditation, MEZCOPH must demonstrate how students are assessed on these competencies, the level of mastery, and a culture of continuous improvement related to curriculum based on assessment. In addition to CEPH Accreditation, the University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). HLC has similar stipulations regarding assessment and continuous improvement. Where ever possible, MEZCOPH attempts to utilize processes that meet both CEPH and the University needs
Who reviews academic assessment data?
University Level: At the University level, data from assessment is aggregated across courses and multiple academic years. University level data is reported in Taskstream.
College Level: At the College level, data from assessment is aggregated and stratified by program. The Education Committee routinely reviews, discusses, and may propose actions.
Degree Program Level: At the Degree Program level, program directors have the ability to review data and potentially can identify students in need of student success advising.
What is an Indirect Assessment, Direct Assessment, and why do we need both?
Indirect assessments utilize surveys as evidence of a student's level of understanding/skill of a particular competency. These are the student's perception of their ability. MEZCOPH conducts indirect assessments at Annual Progress Report (graduate students only), Exit Survey (graduation), and Alumni Survey (~1 year post graduation).
Direct assessments utilize the evaluation of student work product(s) (project, exam, lab, assignment, etc) as evidence of the student's level of understanding/skill of a particular competency. Depending on the degree program, MEZCOPH collects data on direct assessments via D2L assessment module, REDCap, or other means.
Indirect and direct assessments are two sides of the same coin. When used together, they can inform faculty as to areas of success and areas of improvement with regards to curriculum.
Direct Assessment in D2L
For the Bachelors in Public Health and the Masters in Public Health, MEZCOPH has opted to utilize D2L assessment module as the main source for direct assessment data.&n Currently this is limited to instructors teaching core courses for these degrees. If you are interest in utilizing D2L assessment in a non-core course, contact the college Data Manager at COPH-DATAMGMT@arizona.edu.
D2L Assessment Tutorial Videos
These tutorial videos are step by step walkthroughs on the basics of the D2L assessment module. They demonstrate how to align CEPH Competencies to your course, associate assignments, discussions, and quiz questions to CEPH Competencies, and how to assess while grading in D2L. All videos are 2 to 5 minutes each.
D2L Assessment Tutorial Videos
These tutorial videos are step by step walkthroughs on the basics of the D2L assessment module. They demonstrate how to align CEPH Competencies to your course, associate assignments, discussions, and quiz questions to CEPH Competencies, and how to assess while grading in D2L. All videos are 2 to 5 minutes each.
Step 1: Align CEPH Competencies to D2L Course
Step 2: Associate CEPH Competencies to D2L Assignment(s), Discussion, or Quiz Questions
Step 3: Assess CEPH Competencies While Grading in D2L
Academic assessment is a continuous improvement process with the intent to improve student learning. It is a systematic, data informed, process to review a degree program and evaluate student’s level of understanding of stated competencies. At the heart of Academic Assessment is ensuring students have the ability and skills expected from earning a MEZCOPH degree.
As a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Accredited College of Public Health, all MEZCOPH degree programs have stated competencies. Competencies are concepts and skills each degree program is meant to instill in the student. As part of CEPH accreditation, MEZCOPH must demonstrate how students are assessed on these competencies, the level of mastery, and a culture of continuous improvement related to curriculum based on assessment. In addition to CEPH Accreditation, the University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). HLC has similar stipulations regarding assessment and continuous improvement. Where ever possible, MEZCOPH attempts to utilize processes that meet both CEPH and the University needs
University Level: At the University level, data from assessment is aggregated across courses and multiple academic years. University level data is reported in Taskstream.
College Level: At the College level, data from assessment is aggregated and stratified by program. The Education Committee routinely reviews, discusses, and may propose actions.
Degree Program Level: At the Degree Program level, program directors have the ability to review data and potentially can identify students in need of student success advising.
Indirect assessments utilize surveys as evidence of a student's level of understanding/skill of a particular competency. These are the student's perception of their ability. MEZCOPH conducts indirect assessments at Annual Progress Report (graduate students only), Exit Survey (graduation), and Alumni Survey (~1 year post graduation).
Direct assessments utilize the evaluation of student work product(s) (project, exam, lab, assignment, etc) as evidence of the student's level of understanding/skill of a particular competency. Depending on the degree program, MEZCOPH collects data on direct assessments via D2L assessment module, REDCap, or other means.
Indirect and direct assessments are two sides of the same coin. When used together, they can inform faculty as to areas of success and areas of improvement with regards to curriculum.
For the Bachelors in Public Health and the Masters in Public Health, MEZCOPH has opted to utilize D2L assessment module as the main source for direct assessment data.&n Currently this is limited to instructors teaching core courses for these degrees. If you are interest in utilizing D2L assessment in a non-core course, contact the college Data Manager at COPH-DATAMGMT@arizona.edu.