Off-campus, or “beyond-the-classroom,” Abbreviated Assessment of Learning Plan
All Current Assessment Plans and Reports were developed and written by Karin Borei, Coordinator of Off-campus Learning for 2006-2007.
A three-credit out-of-classroom experience is required for all Millikin students within the Millikin Program of Student Learning. This requirement acknowledges that learning takes place not just in the classroom and not just on-campus; and it also underscores James Millikin’s original intent of linking the “practical” with the “literary and classical.”
Beyond-the-Classroom Learning Outcome Goals
The learning outcome goals for students fulfilling the off-campus learning experience are that students will be able to reflect meaningfully on:
- personal and professional connections between classroom learning and out-of-classroom learning experiences, and
- relationship-building skills and success in working with people and environments that differ from the student’s own.
Beyond-the-Classroom Learning Story
The out-of-classroom requirement is filled co-extensively with the completion of one or more other academic credit-bearing “host” course(s). Study abroad (whether for entire semesters or for one-to-two week “immersions” between semesters) and internships (which also includes student teaching and nursing practicums) are the two most prevalent curricular possibilities that encompass a beyond-the-classroom component, with small numbers of service learning activities and independent study projects completing the picture.
Beyond-the-Classroom Snapshot
Most students, regardless of major, do not have any difficulty finding opportunities for meeting the beyond-the-classroom requirement. All of the University’s academic disciplines offer beyond-the-classroom opportunities. The full report elaborates with detailed descriptions and statistics.
Samples of syllabi or contracts in each of the major categories (internships, practicums, student teaching, study abroad, other such as individual study) are being collected. These will be reviewed to assure that relevant (to Beyond-the Classroom) reflection components are included.
Beyond-the-Classroom Assessment Methods
- A statistically random sample of student reflection pieces from those learning events for which syllabi or contracts were collected will be evaluated, using rubrics developed for that purpose.
- National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) longitudinal data on select questions will be highlighted for comparison purposes (with select peer and aspiration institutions.
Beyond-the-Classroom Assessment Data
The report will include the resulting data from each assessment category/method.
Analysis of Assessment Results
The report will analyze the data collected and will evaluate the effectiveness of our learning events in helping students meet the Beyond-the-Classroom learning goals.
Improvement Plans
Recommendations for strengthening the beyond-the-classroom learning experience include assuring that the learning goals are made explicit in, and assessed in the context of, all “host” experiences, and that the beyond-the-classroom goals become more generally and consistently understood across campus. |
