How do you plan to evaluate whether your project was successful in producing the desired results?
How will changes made as a result of grant activities impact student learning? How will you know? 

Grants funded by the Pew FTLC are expected to improve student engagement, student learning outcomes, and student success. An important aspect of grant writing is developing a clear relationship between the proposed activities and quality of student learning. As with any assessment efforts, multiple methods of evaluation are encouraged. 

Course-based evaluation methods might include:

• mid-semester course assessments
• peer review of course documents such as assignments, syllabi
• analysis of student work 
• course evaluation ratings
• student focus groups
• questionnaires

Guiding questions to help you develop your assessment plan may be found in these two documents: 

Levels of assessment: From the student to the institution, American Association of Colleges & Universities

Course-based review and assessment: Methods for understanding student learning, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 

 

RESOURCES

FOUR HELPFUL SITES

Assessment Commons: Internet Resources for Higher Education Outcomes Assessment

Assessment Primer, University of Connecticut

National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment Publications 

Online Evaluation Resource Library 

FOUR HELPFUL BOOKS

Angelo, T., & Cross, P. (1993). Classroom assessment techniques: A handbook for college teachers. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Suskie, L. (2009). Assessing student learning: A common sense guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 

Maki, P. (2010). Assessing for Learning, 2nd Ed. Sterling, VA: Stylus. 

Walvoord, B. (2010). Assessment clear and simple: A practical guide for institutions, departments, and general education, 2nd Ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.