Because the student learning outcomes initiative is so dependent on common vocabulary and common understanding, the Learning Outcomes Task Force has endeavored to create a glossary to assist everyone at Chaffey College working toward developing the common goals of this project.
Learning Outcome: A description of what we intend for students to know/think (cognitive), feel (affective), or do (behavioral) when they have completed a given course of study. The emphasis is on the destination-rather than the journey.
Assessment: A means to measure a student learning outcome. These measures are not limited to tests and may include portfolios, projects, performance, survey, and behavior. The purpose of assessment is to discover how well students learn.
Criteria for Assessment: The criterion sets the "benchmark" for an acceptable measurement of student learning during the assessment and evaluation cycle.
Criterion Referenced Assessment: The program sets the level of performance based on the identified learning outcome and determines an appropriate level of success.
Norm Referenced Assessment: The program compares the performance levels of students to other groups in other institutions or programs.
Quantitative Assessment: Quantitative measurements assess cognitive skill, attitudes or beliefs, or behavioral performance but do require standardized instruments.
Qualitative Assessment: Qualitative measurements may assess using portfolio, public performance, or juried competition for learned skills.
Locally-Developed Means of Assessment: Internal assessment instruments such as surveys, examinations, projects, or assignments rather than standardized measures.
Student Learning Outcome Assessment Cycle: An institutional pattern of identifying outcomes, assessment, and improvement plans based on the assessment.
WASC: Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the regional accrediting agency that requiring institutional outcome/assessment cycles.
Academic Achievement: Outcomes are not to be confused by achievements, which indicate success, retention, grades, and transfer rates but not learning.
Program: A program might be defined in a number of ways. 1) A "program" may be any course of study or services devoted to the same core learning outcomes. 2) A program might be a defined set of courses or services that result in a certificate, license, or some form of completion. 3) A program might be a series or group of courses within a discipline devoted to developing similar skills such as the ESL Reading Series, Accounting Series, or the Transfer sequence in Psychology or it may be organized under an "umbrella" term such as Critical Thinking, Physical Sciences, or Multi-Cultural/Gender Studies.
