Glossary
- learning objective - a statement of the desired knowledge or skills faculty wish for students to obtain through a course; these are stated on the master syllabus for all courses
- learning outcome - a statement of the desired knowledge or skills faculty wish for students to obtain through an academic program; student achievement of these is measured through the program assessment plan; the term is often used synonymously with learning objective though at Metro State we distinguish between learning outcomes at the program level and learning objectives at the course level
- program assessment - gathering and interpretation of data regarding collective student experiences in an academic or other program
- feedback loop - use of assessment findings to improve curricula or programs intended to enhance student learning
- direct measure - evidence which demonstrates student achievement of a learning objective, generally a student work product or performance
- indirect measure - perception of achievement of a learning objective, generally via student self-report
- course-embedded assessment - student work products (or artifacts) generated for purposes of a course assignment, exam or other activity are also used for program assessment purposes
- rubric - a set of criteria to which levels of performance are attached and clearly described, often used for rating or scoring student work products
