Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Comparison Of Level Of Satisfaction Between Distance Education And On-Campus Programs, Dae Shik Kim, Helen Lee, Annette Skellenger

Assessment Publications & Presentations

No abstract provided.

Science Faculty Grading Practices On Quantitative Problems: Are Their Values Consistent With Their Practices?, Jeffrey Barney, Jacinta Macinta

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

Grading practices can send a powerful message to students about what is expected. Research in physics education has identified a misalignment between what college instructors value and their actual scoring of quantitative student solutions. This work identified three values that guide grading decisions: (1) a desire to see students’ reasoning, (2) a readiness to deduct points from solutions with obvious errors and a reluctance to deduct points from solutions that might be correct, and (3) a tendency to assume correct reasoning when solutions are ambiguous. When values are in conflict, the conflict is resolved by placing the burden of proof …

Predictors Of Academic Success For Optometry Students, Robert S. Buckingham

Dissertations

Optometry school admissions are very competitive. With more applicants than available slots, admission committees must choose those students whom they feel will be successful graduates. Previous studies in the health profession schools have demonstrated that the predictors of academic achievement are preadmission science grade point average (GPA), preadmission cumulative GPA, and standardized entrance tests. However, with the advent of the Optometry Centralized Applications Service (OptomCAS), no research could be found on the predictors of success as it relates to those variables. This study, therefore, evaluates the ability of these variables to predict the GPA and graduation of students in the …

Teaching And Understanding The Concept Of Critical Thinking Skills Within Michigan Accredited Associate Degree Dental Hygeine Programs, Kimberly S. Beistle

Dissertations

This study explores dental hygiene faculty's perceptions regarding the issues surrounding the concept of critical thinking skills integration within Michigan accredited associate degree dental hygiene programs. the primary research goals are to determine faculty understanding of the concept of critical thinking, identify personal and departmental rational and support for integrating critical thinking into the curriculum, describe teaching strategies used to teach critical thinking skills, and identify challenges by incorporating critical thinking skills into the curriculum. Using the Critical Thinking Model developed by Paul and Elder (2005), along with their research-based teaching strategies promoting critical thinking, a qualitative study approach is …

A Study Of Support Services And Their Relationship With School Effectiveness In American Public Schools: Findings From The School And Staffing Survey (Sass) 2007-2008, Diane J. Gibbs

Dissertations

This study inquires into support services in schools and their relationship to school effectiveness by using data from the National Center for Education Statistics 2007–2008 School and Staffing Survey (SASS). Students’ ability to learn is impacted by their physical and mental health. It is more difficult to measure the influence of nonacademic factors on academic achievements than traditional academic factors. This study focuses on (a) the extent support services, beyond regular classroom instruction, are provided, (b) how provision is affected by school background, (c) whether and, if so, how providing support services relates to school effectiveness, and (d) whether and, …

Patterns Of Interaction And Mathematical Thinking Of High School Students In Classroom Environments That Include Use Of Java-Based, Curriculum-Embedded Software, Karen L. Fonkert

Dissertations

This study analyzes the nature of student interaction and discourse in an environment that includes the use of Java-based, curriculum-embedded mathematical software. The software CPMP-Tools was designed as part of the development of the second edition of the Core-Plus Mathematics curriculum. The use of the software on laptop computers in small groups of students, and in whole-class interactive lessons with a single computer at the front of the classroom was explored. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and selected items from the students’ regular assessments. During the observations, classroom discussion was audio-taped and videotaped, and field notes were taken. The …

Accelerated Degree Completion Programs: The Effects Of Core Professors In Nontraditional Higher Education, Dale Frederick Gadd

Dissertations

Nontraditional Accelerated Degree Completion Programs (ADCPs) became popular in the 1980s at many private, higher education institutions, and involved cohort groups facilitated by core or major professors. There has been little research addressing the effectiveness of a core-professor or multiple-professor approach within ADCPs, or research on how students view their learning experiences under this unique concept. This study therefore examines: (1) the effects of using a core-professor concept within nontraditional ADCPs, and (2) students' experiences under the core-professor and multiple-professor concepts.

Two sources of data were used, as obtained from students who had been involved in an ADCP program at …

Assessment Matters #15, Feb 2012, Assessment In Action Committee

Assessment Matters @ WMU

No abstract provided.

Developing The School Of Social Work's Capacity To Assess Student Learning Using Council Of Social Work Education's (Cswe) Educational Policies And Standard (Epas) Competencies And Skills, Donna Weinreich

Assessment Grants

No abstract provided.

Assessing Professional Behaviors, Carrick D. Craig

Assessment in Action Conference

Participants in this session will receive tips for assessing professional behaviors, tools for reviewing your current policy and advice for responding appropriately to a variety of situations that may include dismissing students from your professional program.

Assessment To Promote Success In Graduate Education, Jeffrey A. Barney, Katharine Cummings, Lindsay Naokes, Diane Rogers

Assessment in Action Conference

Jeffrey Barney, Lindsay Noakes, and Diane Rogers, doctoral students in the NSF-sponsored "Assessment for Learning" project, will discuss ways in which formative assessment can be used to promote learning and achievement in graduate education.

Assessment Of Two Online Tutorials: Student Leraning, Student Preferences, Dianna E. Sachs, Kathleen Langan, Carrie C. Leatherman

Assessment Grants

No abstract provided.

Air Traffic Selection & Training (At-Sat) Test Success Predictability And Preparation, Gil Sinclair, Ryan Seiler

Assessment Grants

No abstract provided.

Developing Portfolio-Based Assessment For History Students: Phase I, James Cousins, Ed Martini

Assessment Grants

No abstract provided.

Wmu Assessment In Action Day Conference 2012, Office Of Assessment And Undergraduate Studies

Assessment in Action Conference

No abstract provided.

Characteristics, Involvement And Behaviors Of Academically Successful, Engaged And Satisfied Western Michigan University Undergraduates, Anne E. Lundquist

Assessment Grants

No abstract provided.

How Well Are You Organized To Deliver And Evaluate The Learning That You Value?, Marilee J. Bresciani

Assessment in Action Conference

This workshop will present some strategies to consider how well your curriculum (which include the co-curricular) is designed in order for your students to learn what you want them to learn. In addition, the workshop will provide some key questions and strategies to consider so that you can identify whether the learning you value is being demonstrated by your students. The workshop will close with providing you some ideas for how to collaborate so that data-driven decisions can be made in order to improve the learning that you value.

The State Of Assessment At Wmu, David S. Reinhold

Assessment in Action Conference

This presentation is a discussion of the challenges that remain as WMU moves forward with assessment of student learning. Participants are welcome to add comments and provide suggestions.

What Learning Do We Value Within Our Institution?, Marilee J. Bresciani

Assessment in Action Conference

Using framing questions and institutional examples, this keynote will identify strategies for you to consider as you examine how your expectations for student learning and development align with institutional values. The keynote will close with some questions for you to consider as you determine how you can connect the learning you desire for your students to what the institution communicates that it values.

Assessment Matters #14, Nov 2011, Assessment In Action Committee

Assessment Matters @ WMU

No abstract provided.

Testing The Tests: An Investigation Into The Effectiveness Of Alternative Assessment Methods For Bilingual Language-Impaired Children, Lena G. Caesar

The Hilltop Review

Alternative language assessment procedures are gaining in prominence as authentic alternatives to traditional measures, but scant data exist regarding the relative effectiveness of the data they provide. This paper first summarizes the criteria for effective language assessment of bilingual children as documented in the literature, and then comparatively evaluates the effectiveness of research studies employing the three most-cited alternative assessment approaches: descriptive, dynamic, and curriculum-based. Conclusions regarding the impact of appropriate assessment on issues of over- and under-representation of bilingual Hispanic students are also discussed.

Assessment Matters #13, July 2011, Assessment In Action Committee

Assessment Matters @ WMU

No abstract provided.

Assessment Matters #12, Feb 2011, Assessment In Action Committee

Assessment Matters @ WMU

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of The Celcis Intensive English Program, Robert J. Dlouhy, Jason T. Burkhardt

Assessment Grants

The Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS) program at Western Michigan University provides English language instruction to international students wishing to conduct academic study in the United States.

This study intends to answer three questions:

1. Do CELCIS graduates perform as well in their university studies as students who have been granted restricted admission, but have not completed CELCIS?

2. How does the university performance of students who have completed CELCIS compare with students who have attended CELCIS but not completed its curriculum?

3. What recommendations could encourage further capitalization of the strengths and needs of …

General Education Assessment, Mary Allen

Assessment in Action Conference

The assessment of General Education presents unique challenges to an institution. We will discuss strategies for effective General Education assessment.

Wmu Assessment In Action Day Conference Program 2011, Office Of Assessment And Undergraduate Studies

Assessment in Action Conference

No abstract provided.

Assessment For Administrative And Student Affairs Units, Mary J. Allen

Assessment in Action Conference

No abstract provided.

Strategic Planning And Assessment, Sue Stapleton

Assessment in Action Conference

The fundamentals of strategic planning in higher education along with design of metrics for assessment will be discussed in this presentation.

Assessing Professional Behaviors, Carrick D. Craig

Assessment in Action Conference

Participants in this session will receive tips for assessing professional behaviors, tools for reviewing your current policy and advice for responding appropriately to a variety of situations that may include dismissing students from your professional program.

Rubric Development Workshop, Mary Allen

Assessment in Action Conference

Rubrics specify the criteria we use to assess student products and behaviors. After a brief introduction, participants in this workshop will draft a rubric. You are encouraged to come with a colleague and work together to develop a rubric that will be useful to your program.