Assessing Institution Student Learning Outcomes

Bates Technical College helps students realize their potential for growth and success through innovative instruction in a nurturing, diverse environment. When students achieve their career and personal goals, they strengthen the region’s social and economic vibrancy. Bates measures institution student learning outcomes (ISLOs) across all courses, degrees, programs and general education to ensure students across the institution reach their potential.

Assessing Institution Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs)

Bates has identified three Institution Student Learning Outcomes (ISLOs) that represent key abilities that every Bates graduate should demonstrate — Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, and Human Diversity. Like all student outcomes at Bates, these ISLOs have been mapped to Bloom’s Taxonomy levels:

Critical Thinking ISLO

Critical thinking is defined as disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence. Coursework is designed to challenge a student’s ability to problem solve and analyze given the demands of an ever-changing workplace within a diverse culture.

Effective Communication ISLO

Effective communication is evidenced by the ability to identify relationships among ideas, point of view, and language choices by reading and writing critically.

Human Diversity ISLO

Human diversity involves the ability to recognize, interpret and respond to the differences and commonalities among people in the workplace and the learning environment.

ISLO Assessment Plan

Assessment Cycle:

Three-year cycle, one ISLO per year:

- Year 1: Critical Thinking
- Year 2: Effective Communication
- Year 3: Human Diversity

Faculty Responsibilities:

Reflect on past assessment efforts.
Select specific CSLOs to improve student performance:

- Address ISLO theme for the year.
- Ensure CSLOs cover different levels of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy:

- - Remember/Understand (R/U)
  - Apply/Analyze (A/A)
  - Evaluate/Create (E/C)
Record methods to determine student achievement of objectives.

Spring Quarter Follow-Up:

Faculty survey on student performance:

- Report percentages of students exceeding, meeting, or not meeting expectations.
Use collected data for curricular changes or resource requests.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for samples of ISLO Assessment Plans and Reports.

The following graphic illustrates the annual ISLO assessment cycle:

The following graphic is a guide outlining the expectations for each ISLO area:

Past ISLO Assessments

Assessment Cycle:

Annual cycle started in Fall 2016:
- Year 1: Critical Thinking
- Year 2: Effective Communication
- Year 3: Human Diversity

Process:

Fall: Faculty submit assessment plans.
Winter: Faculty implement assessment plans.
Spring: Faculty submit results.
Review: Assessment Committee collects forms and submits annual report to College Council and Executive Cabinet.

Interruptions: