The Six-Step Assessment Process
Assessment is an ongoing process aimed at continuous improvement of student learning. At CSUF, assessment follows a 6-step cycle:
The Six Steps of Assessment
- Develop student learning outcomes that align with the university's mission,
the university's student learning goals, and (if applicable) the accreditation
requirements of the respective discipline - Develop and implement methods of assessment involving direct and indirect and measures
- Determine criteria for success
- Collect and analyze data
- Plan (and execute) improvement actions
- Document assessment and improvement activities.
Important questions to ask when conducting assessment:
- What do we want our students to learn - at the course level, program level, and the university level?
- How are our students doing? How do we know?
- What evidence do we need to know to determine how well our students are learning?
- How do we use the data to confirm or improve our teaching and learning practices?
- What impacts do our improvement actions have on student learning?
- How are we documenting the assessment and improvement activities and outcomes?
