Assessing Adult Learning in Online Courses

12.2 Background Overview Of Assessment

Boulmetis and Dutwin (2000) defined evaluation as a “systematic process of collecting and analyzing data in order to determine whether and to what degree objectives have been or are being achieved” (p. 4). The focus is student performance. Education assessment has a larger agenda: analyzing and using data to make informed decisions about teaching and learning. Assessing adult education programs and their support mechanisms takes time and effort: from deciding what to assess through choosing an appropriate instrument, gathering the data, and analyzing the results. Any slip along the way can lessen its effect and benefits, so the process needs to be planned and implemented carefully.

To this end, the American Association of Higher Education (AAHE) Assessment Forum (2003) identified nine principles to guide assessment of student learning, which apply well to assessing adult education in general and to online environments in particular:

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  Use educational values as your touchstone. Measure what you value.

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  Assess adult learning as a complex set of skills, knowledge, and dispositions gained over time. As such, use a variety of assessment methods from different points of view and time.

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  Have clear, specific educational goals. Assessment should lead to improvement, so all stakeholders should agree on precisely what needs to be examined―and why.

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  Consider both processes and products. How an adult learner solves a problem reflects both internal mental schemas as well as instructional approaches and content, for instance. In online environments, assessment needs to address technical expertise.

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  Assess on an ongoing basis. Baselines, benchmarks, and culminating experiences need to be assessed so timely interventions can be incorporated to optimize learning. There should be a spirit of continuous improvement.

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  Foster broad involvement. Each stakeholder brings a unique perspective that can impact others’ efforts. Active participation by the entire learning community also optimizes communication and systematic coordination.

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  Focus on the use of assessment. Do not assess just for the sake of the process but in order to take justified action on issues that people truly care about.

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  Consider assessment as an integral part of the larger picture to improve the learning community and organization. Assessment should not be a separate entity or sidebar entity, but a main ingredient for decision-making.

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  Consider assessment as an accountability issue. Educational institutions are accountable to their students and to the community at large. Assessment keeps education “honest” in the eyes of the public.