A TALE OF TWO METHODS: COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FACE- TO-FACE AND ONLINE LEARNING National...

A TALE OF TWO METHODS: COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FACE-TO-FACE AND ONLINE LEARNING

National Institute on the Assessment of Adult Learning 2011: Virtual

Assessment. Real Outcomes.

Yuerong Sweetland, PhD – Director of Assessment , Franklin UniversityYuerong Sweetland, PhD – Director of Assessment , Franklin University

Presentation Overview

Institutional Context and Background Assessment Model and Process Case Studies Closing the Loop Questions & Answers

Background (1)

Founded in 1902 as the YMCA School of Commerce

Accrediting bodies: HLC and IACBE Adult students

Undergraduate Average Age: 33 Graduate Average Age: 35

Background (2)

First online courses offered 1998 As of Fall 2010, Franklin

Offers 28 undergraduate majors & 4 graduate majors, available both f2f and online

More than 11,000 students enrolled annually

Multiple Locations: Domestic and International

Online vs. F2F Trend (1)

Education Philosophy

Ensuring academic quality Providing access to educational

opportunities Adapting to the needs of students Responding to changes in society,

professions, and the business community

Academic Model

Centralized academic model Curriculum development: Team-based

approach Fulltime faculty Design faculty Content contributor Adjunct

Cascading Systems of Outcomes

Assessment

Assessment - the “systemic collection, review and use of information about academic programs for improving student learning and development.”

Each Academic Program has an Assessment Plan, which identifies outcomes, assessment methods, and implementation schedules

Assessment: Key Elements

Multi-faceted assessment model Strong linkages between assessment

and curriculum re-design Streamlined process Transparency to all stakeholders

Multi-faceted Assessment Model Direct

Capstone projects Selected course projects/assignments E-Portfolios Locally designed exams in capstone/other courses Nationally normed exams (Proficiency Profile, MFT)

Indirect Current student survey Graduating student survey Alumni survey NSSE Grades

Assessment Process

Assessment Artifacts Collection

https://dropbox.franklin.edu/dropboxasmt/login.jsp

Assessment DropBox Interface

Examples: Direct Assessment (Undergraduate)

Examples: Direct Assessment (Undergraduate)

Examples: Indirect Assessment (Undergraduate)

Examples: Indirect Assessment (Undergraduate)

Examples: Indirect Assessment (Undergraduate)

Examples: Indirect Assessment (Graduate)

Closing the Loop….

Major impacts of assessment findings: Curriculum Redesign Informing hiring plans Changes in assessment criteria Changes in assignment requirements,

supporting materials Additional support services provided by

the Student Learning Center

Questions or Comments?Dr. Yuerong Sweetland

Liuy@franklin.edu

A Tale of Two Methods:A Tale of Two Methods:Comparative Assessment of Comparative Assessment of

Face-to-face and Online Face-to-face and Online LearningLearning