Choose a Learning Objective to Assess

Programs are expected to assess a single objective each year, though it is fine to assess multiple objectives. An assessment plan begins with a student learning concern or question about a particular learning objective that faculty want to explore further.

There are a range of reasons for choosing a particular PLO: maybe it has never been examined or has not been examined in some time. Alternatively, broader institution, college, or departmental discussions may be centered on specific knowledge, skills, or values embodied by a particular PLO. The choice of which PLO to assess is often rooted in faculty concerns or questions based on their observations of student performance. For example, faculty may notice that students are unable to solve particular problems in a 400-level course. This may lead them to choose to assess an objective related to problem-solving. The learning concern or question is what drives the assessment design.​