Reengineering Progress Report: Articulate Learning Outcomes for Courses

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Goal: Utilize the VCCS faculty peer group structure to articulate learning outcomes for courses, beginning with prerequisite courses and courses with high enrollment currently demonstrating low success rates and/or low persistence rates to subsequent courses and award completion.

green-circle17. Improve Learning Outcomes and Reduce Student and College Costs
Develop mutually agreed learning outcomes, associated learning objects, student achievement benchmarks and multiple assessment methodologies.

UPDATES:

April 2013 - The Curriculum Committee has differentiated course goals between ACC 211 & 212. A prerequisite recommendation has been identified, an assessment plan is being developed, and discussions are ongoing for a resource repository. A Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued in April, 2013 for faculty to apply for four $5,000 grants to develop model courses in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats that can be adopted or adapted by any Accounting faculty member in the VCCS.

BIO 101: The Curriculum Committee has completed most work on the course description, prerequisite recommendation, learning outcomes, and assessment plan. Work continues on the resource repository, and the committee is turning its attention to creating a professional development plan. An RFP will be issued in April for faculty to apply for four $5,000 grants to develop model courses in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats that can be adopted or adapted by any Biology faculty member in the VCCS.

PSY 200: The on-campus, online, and hybrid model courses are in the pilot test implementation phase. Pilot Teams have conducted interim assessments and are using that data to modify the courses.  Delivery of the completed courses to the VCCS for dissemination is expected this summer.

Communication with ACC, BIO, and PSY faculty peer groups is ongoing; presentations will be made at the New Horizons Conference.

March 2013 -  The ACC 211 and BIO 101 Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) curriculum committees continue to make progress on articulating learning outcomes. In this process each committee has found it necessary to discuss goals and outcomes for two courses in a sequence (i.e. ACC 211-212 and BIO 101-102). The work of the curriculum committees is informed by ongoing feedback from faculty across the VCCS, and each committee will host a session at the 2013 VCCS New Horizons Conference. An RFP will be issued to ACC and BIO faculty to apply for $5,000 grants to develop model courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats.

The PSY 200 implementation is in the pilot course development and faculty professional development phase. A drive-in meeting for PSY faculty was held at John Tyler Community College on February 22, 2013 to disseminate information about the PSY 200 ALO project. Highlights included an update on and discussion of the PSY 200 assessment plan, and reports from the three PSY 200 faculty teams that are piloting model courses this semester in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats. These PSY 200 Pilot Teams will also host a session at the 2013 VCCS New Horizons Conference. The new PSY 200 course will be implemented system-wide in Fall 2013.

February 2013 - The ACC 211 and BIO 101 Articulate Learning Outcomes curriculum committees have drafted student learning outcomes, course descriptions, and assessment plans. The committees will turn to finalizing those items and to identifying professional development strategies for the roll out of the new courses. In March 2013 a request for proposals will be issued to ACC and BIO faculty to design and test model courses for on-campus, hybrid, and online delivery modes; awards will be $5,000 for each model course.

The PSY 200 Pilot Teams are testing courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats this semester. In February the PSY Peer Group will hold a drive-in meeting to support the full implementation of PSY 200 in Fall 2013.

January 2013 - The ACC 211 and BIO 101 Articulate Learning Outcomes curriculum committees are writing course descriptions and student learning outcomes. They have shared drafts with their peer groups and are in the process of revising. In the spring semester the curriculum committees will create assessment strategies, professional development plans, and resource repositories. A request for proposals to ACC and BIO faculty to design and test model courses for on-campus, hybrid, and online delivery modes will be issued; awards will be $5,000 for each model course. Work continues on PSY 200 implementation: The PSY 200 Pilot Teams are actively developing model courses, and a system-wide professional development strategy is being rolled out.

December 2012 – The ACC 211 and BIO 101 Articulate Learning Outcomes curriculum committees are writing course descriptions and student learning outcomes. They have shared drafts with their peer groups and are in the process of revising. In the spring semester the curriculum committees will create assessment strategies, professional development plans, and resource repositories. A request for proposals to ACC and BIO faculty to design and test model courses for on-campus, hybrid, and online delivery modes will be issued; awards will be $5,000 for each model course. Work continues on PSY 200 implementation.  The PSY 200 Pilot Teams are actively developing model courses, and a system-wide professional development strategy is being rolled out.

November 2012 - The second phase of the Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) initiative is underway. ACC 211 and BIO 101 ALO curriculum committees have begun work on those courses.  Each curriculum committee will host a session at their upcoming Peer Group meeting. Work continues on PSY 200 from the first phase of ALO implementation.  The revised PSY 200 course was approved by the VCCS Deans’ Course Review Committee and will become effective in Fall 2013.  Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Thomas Nelson Community College are developing model courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats, and a system-wide professional development strategy for PSY 200 faculty is being rolled out.

October 2012 – The second phase of the Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) initiative is underway. ACC 211 and BIO 101 ALO curriculum committees have begun work on those courses. Work continues on PSY 200 from the first phase of ALO implementation. The revised PSY 200 course was approved by the VCCS Deans’ Course Review Committee and will become effective in Fall 2013. Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Thomas Nelson Community Colleges are developing model courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats, and a system-wide professional development strategy for PSY 200 faculty is being rolled out.

September 2012 – The PSY 200 Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) Curriculum Committee has submitted its final report to the VCCS, including a revised course description, course prerequisite recommendations, detailed student learning outcomes, an assessment plan, a resource repository, and a professional development plan. Faculty at Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, and Thomas Nelson Community Colleges have been awarded $5,000 grants to develop model PSY 200 courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats. In Fall 2012, the VCCS Deans’ Course Review Committee will be petitioned to approve the revised PSY 200 course. The PSY 200 ALO Curriculum Committee has designed a 2012-13 professional development plan for Virginia’s Community Colleges to prepare psychology faculty for the implementation of the revised PSY 200 course in Fall 2013.

In September, 2012 two ALO curriculum committees with representatives from each of Virginia’s Community Colleges will be convened to engage the articulate learning outcomes process for ACC 211 and BIO 101.

August 2012 - The PSY 200 Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) Curriculum Committee will submit its final report to the VCCS by August 15, including a revised course description, course prerequisite recommendations, detailed student learning outcomes, an assessment plan, a resource repository, and a professional development plan. Faculty at four colleges, Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Thomas Nelson, and Virginia Western Community Colleges,  have been provisionally awarded $5,000 grants to develop model PSY 200 courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats. In Fall 2012, the VCCS Deans’ Course Review Committee will be petitioned to approve the revised PSY 200 course. The PSY 200 ALO Curriculum Committee has designed a 2012-13 professional development plan for Virginia’s Community Colleges to prepare psychology faculty for the implementation of the revised PSY 200 course in Fall 2013.

In September 2012, two ALO curriculum committees with representatives from each of Virginia’s Community Colleges will be convened to engage the articulate learning outcomes process for ACC 211 and BIO 101.

July 2012 - The work of the Articulate Learning Outcomes initiative is still on schedule through efforts of the ALO Curriculum Committee and the ALO Steering Group. Awards of $5000 are to be granted by July 16 to Psychology faculty to develop model PSY 200 courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats that faculty at other colleges may, but are not required to, adopt or adapt, and the ALO Curriculum Committee is planning on submission of a final report to the VCCS by August 15, 2012.

June 2012 -The PSY 200 Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) Curriculum Committee expects to submit a final report to the VCCS by August 15, 2012. To date, the Committee has developed the following materials which have been disseminated for two rounds of comment by VCCS Psychology faculty:

  • a revised course description,
  • a prerequisite recommendation,
  • detailed student learning outcomes, and
  • an assessment plan.

The Committee is currently creating a resource repository of learning objects aligned with the student learning outcomes and a professional development plan for educating Psychology faculty about the revised PSY 200 course. The ALO Steering Group has received grant applications from Psychology faculty to develop model PSY 200 courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats that faculty at other colleges may, but are not required to, adopt or adapt. Awards of $5,000 to four PSY 200 Pilot Teams will be made by July 16. Pilot Teams will develop their courses in fall 2012 and test them in spring 2013. The ALO Steering Group is making preparations for the next round of outcomes articulation.  Curriculum Committees for ACC 211 and BIO 101 will begin their work in the fall 2012 semester.

May 2012 – The Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) Steering Group has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to all VCCS psychology faculty for $5,000 Pilot Team Grants to develop model PSY 200 courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats that faculty at other colleges may, but are not required to, adopt or adapt. The application deadline is June 1, 2012.  The PSY 200 Articulate Learning Outcomes Curriculum Committee has completed or is working on the following activities:

  • Solicited input from full and part-time psychology faculty through email, Blackboard, and at the New Horizons Conference.
  • Discussed faculty comments to assist the revision of the second draft of learning outcomes and the first draft of the assessment plan.
  • Reviewed VCCS data to inform deliberations about course prerequisites.
  • Set a goal to finalize the learning outcomes and use faculty feedback to revise the assessment guidelines at its May 4 meeting.

Awards of $5,000 to four PSY 200 Pilot Teams will be made by July 16. Pilot Teams will develop their courses in Fall 2012 and test them in Spring 2013.

April 2012 - The Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) Steering Group has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to all VCCS psychology faculty for $5,000 Pilot Team Grants to develop model PSY 200 courses in on-campus, hybrid, and online formats that faculty at other colleges may, but are not required to, adopt or adapt. The application deadline is June 1, 2012. The PSY 200 Articulate Learning Outcomes Curriculum Committee, chaired by Dr. Dennis Abry (Piedmont Virginia Community College) and with representation from each VCCS college, has completed or is working on the following activities:

  • Held its second meeting on March 30 at John Tyler Community College.
  • Solicited input from full and part-time psychology faculty through email, Blackboard, and at the New Horizons Conference.
  • Discussed faculty comments to assist the revision of the first draft of learning outcomes and the course description.
  • Reviewed VCCS data to inform deliberations about course prerequisites.
  • Charged a subcommittee with drafting assessment guidelines for PSY 200.
  • Set a goal to finalize the learning outcomes and use faculty feedback to revise the assessment guidelines at its May 4 meeting.

Awards of $5,000 to four PSY 200 Pilot Teams will be made by July 16. Pilot Teams will develop their courses in Fall 2012 and test them in Spring 2013.

March 2012 – The PSY 200 Curriculum Committee, chaired by Dr. Dennis Abry from Piedmont Virginia Community College and with representation from every college, has begun the work of articulating outcomes for the course. The Committee has reviewed the course description, has drafted course goals, is in the process of detailing learning outcomes, and has begun the discussion about assessment methodologies and benchmarks. Committee members will communicate with the peer group and with faculty at their colleges. At the New Horizons Conference the committee will present its work to-date and solicit further feedback. The Articulate Learning Outcomes Steering Group monitors the process and provides technical assistance.

February 2012 – The following milestones were reached for the Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) initiative in Fall 2011:

•    A survey of faculty and administrators guided the selection of the first courses to engage the ALO process and the development of an ALO How-To Guide.

•    The Re-engineering Task Force II endorsed the process and progress of the faculty-led ALO workgroup.

•    The Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee, Council of Deans and Directors, Academic and Student Affairs Council, Advisory Council of Presidents, and every Peer Group meeting was updated on ALO progress and plans.

•    The ALO workgroup submitted its final report to Vice Chancellor of Academic Services and Research.

•    The Vice Chancellor of Academic Services and Research, in consultation with the Academic and Student Affairs Council Executive Committee, approved the workgroup’s ranked list of ALO courses.

•    PSY 200, BIO 101, and ACC 211 have been selected as the first courses to engage the ALO process.

The PSY 200 Curriculum Committee of faculty representatives from each college has been formed. Its goal for this semester is to review/revise the course description and prerequisites, to write the student learning outcomes, and to develop multiple methodologies and benchmarks for assessing student learning and achievement. Updates to and solicitation of input from all VCCS psychology faculty will be a core component of the process, including a presentation on PSY 200 learning outcomes at the New Horizons conference.

January 2012 – At its December meeting, the Reengineering Task Force II endorsed a status report from the faculty-led Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) workgroup and the plans for moving forward. The ALO workgroup used the results of a survey of faculty and administrators to refine its final report and the ranked list of courses that are recommended to be first for articulating learning outcomes.  The course selection recommendation has been shared with the Advisory Council of Presidents, the Academic and Student Affairs Council (ASAC), the Council of Deans and Directors, and the Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Services and Research, in consultation with ASAC’s executive committee, will make the final selection of three courses to initially engage the ALO process. The first ALO Curriculum Committee, comprised of faculty representatives from each college, will begin articulating learning outcomes for a course in their discipline in the Spring 2012 semester. Aligning learning outcomes within courses and across colleges, leveraging faculty talent to design and deliver these outcomes, and enhancing student achievement remain the key features of the ALO initiative.

December 2011 - The Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) workgroup conducted a system-wide survey to solicit feedback on which courses should first engage the ALO process. The workgroup will submit a rank order recommendation of five courses to the VCCS in mid-December; the Curriculum Committee for the first ALO course will begin its work in the Spring 2012 semester. Additionally, survey responses are informing the workgroup’s revisions of the ALO materials that will guide the Curriculum Committees.

The following features are central to the VCCS’ approach to aligning learning outcomes while preserving the most important value we add to teaching and learning – faculty talent:

  • A Curriculum Committee, with faculty representatives from each college, will articulate the learning outcomes for a course in their discipline.
  • Each Curriculum Committee will identify its own multiple methodologies for assessing student learning and achievement.
  • Pilot Teams will be awarded $5,000 grants to implement the Curriculum Committee’s work in online, on-campus, and hybrid iterations of the course.
  • Each college will retain autonomy in deciding whether to adopt Pilot Team courses or to continue creating unique methods for delivering agreed upon learning outcomes.

For more information about successful course reengineering projects across the nation, please refer to the “Getting Started” document on the Articulate Learning Outcomes page of the Rethink website.

November 2011 - The Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) workgroup is laying the foundation for the curriculum teams that will reengineer specific courses.  ALO sub-workgroups will identify criteria for selecting the first ALO courses; design a standard process for ALO curriculum teams to follow; create an incentive plan for colleges to develop and pilot model on-campus, hybrid, and online courses; and determine the metrics by which the success of the ALO initiative will be measured. ALO communication strategies include presentations at all peer group meetings, presentations to the Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee and the Academic and Student Affairs Council, and the dissemination for comment by VCCS stakeholders of ALO workgroup materials before they are revised and forwarded to the vice chancellor for academic services and research in mid-December.  The target date for the first ALO curriculum team to be constituted and begin reengineering a course is Spring 2012.

October 2011 – The Articulate Learning Outcomes (ALO) budget and implementation plan have been approved. By January 2012, the ALO Workgroup, comprised of nine faculty from across the VCCS, as well as deans, vice presidents, and System Office staff, will have identified the first courses for ALO implementation, designed an ALO implementation process, and identified metrics for success.

September 2011 – In anticipation of fiscal year 2012 funding support, the goals, activities, outcomes, deliverables, timeline and budget for the Articulate Learning Outcomes project have been revised and are currently under review.

August 2011 - In anticipation of fiscal year 2012 funding support, the goals, activities, outcomes, deliverables, timeline and budget for the Articulate Learning Outcomes project have been revised and are currently under review.

June 2011 - A proposed budget and a proposed workgroup have been submitted to the System Office.

May 2011 - A proposed budget and a proposed workgroup have been submitted to the System Office. Implementation of the Articulate Learning Outcomes recommendation is expected to commence in Summer 2011.

April 2011 - In spring 2011, the Articulate Learning Outcomes workgroup, with representation from  teaching faculty, college administrators, and system office staff, will organize, obtain resources, and begin the implementation process. The action plan for summer 2011 includes establishing selection criteria for a STEM, O/T, and general education course for the pilot phase and developing an implementation template. In September, the work group will report progress to and solicit feedback from teaching faculty and VCCS governance bodies. During the 2011-12 academic year, discipline faculty curriculum teams will write the learning outcomes and define student achievement goals for each of the three selected courses.