ACES FAQs

Do I have to use Canvas to assess ACES-ILOs?

Yes. ACES outcomes are imported into each Canvas course. When an assignment or assessment is created in Canvas, a rubric must be created, and the desired outcome(s) is/are then added to the Canvas rubric for evaluation using the Speed Grader tool
OAC recommends evaluating these outcomes separately from the graded components of the assignment. When adding an ACES outcome to a Canvas rubric, uncheck the box that says “Use this criterion for scoring: (see image below).

Do I still have to assess course SLOs?

Beginning in Spring 2022, the college is focusing on assessment of ACES outcomes as a direct measure of Chaffey’s institutional learning outcomes (ILOs). While departments and programs may still choose to assess course SLOs, ACES-ILO data can be submitted in lieu of course SLO data. Since assessment of ACES-ILOs is still new to most departments and programs, the OAC recommendation is to contact your coordinator and/or department PSR representative to determine how to proceed with SLOs through Fall 2021.

How will ACES-ILO data be reported and used?

The Office of Institutional Research will run reports at the end of each semester that can identify information such as which ACES outcomes were attempted and in which courses, how many students were assessed and at what level they achieved, how many students completed requirements to earn a full digital badge for an ACES skill, etc.
Section 18.2.3 of the CBA references the requirement of contract/regular faculty in “participation in the development and implementation of student learning outcomes.” As with SLO data in previous semesters, ACES-ILO results are NOT considered as part of the evaluation process.
The data is also used, along with a program called Badgr, to award digital badges to students. Faculty do not have to award digital badges; this process occurs via the Career Center. To earn a badge, students must score achieving or mastering twice for each of the four learning outcomes associated with each skill. Students can share their badges with employers via LinkedIn, and employers can view the credentials associated with each badge.

How should an ACES outcome be assessed in Speed Grader if a student does not submit the corresponding assignment and/or does not attempt to demonstrate the outcome?

ACES outcomes are assessed on a scale from 1 to 4. No progress toward skill completion is earned for a score of 1 (emerging) or 2 (developing) on a given outcome, while a score of 3 (achieving) or 4 (mastering) does earn progress toward skill completion. If a student does not submit the assignment, or if their work does not address the ACES outcome(s) being assessed, it is advised that faculty leave the score for the ACES outcome(s) unmarked. This should not affect students' grades, since it is advised that when ACES outcomes are added to a rubric, faculty uncheck the box that says, "Use this criterion for scoring."

When outcomes are left unmarked, they will appear as "N/A" data on the department report generated by the Office of Institutional Research.

How many ACES skills or outcomes should I assess in my course(s)?

There are 12 ACES skills and four learning outcomes per skill. There is no set number of skills or outcomes required to be assessed per course, but some guidelines to consider include the following:

Your department may identify specific outcomes to assess in their ACES Implementation Plan.
- As part of program review, the implementation plan requires the department to identify two or more ACES skills and at least three ACES outcomes that will be assessed in all courses.
- Contact your Coordinator or Dean for details and requirements.
The Outcomes and Assessment Committee recommends starting with at least 3 different outcomes. These can be associated with a single ACES skill, or spread across multiple skills. Use the ACES-at-a-Glance resource to identify which of the 40 outcomes align well with your course assignments and/or course and program SLOs.
Consider whether the goal is for students to earn one or more ACES skills credential within your course (this is not required and is at the discretion of the instructor).
- To complete an ACES skill and earn a digital credential, students must successfully demonstrate all four outcomes twice per skill.
- Consider whether your students will have opportunities to revise and resubmit assessment(s) if they do not achieve or master an outcome, or whether there will be multiple assessments throughout the course in which they can demonstrate achievement of the outcomes.
- If the goal is to provide the opportunity to earn one or more badges, please refer students to the Career Center for assistance with leveraging their skills.

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