Running Head: PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SLO

Student Learning Outcomes

Project Description

Lynnette Mann

California State University, Monterey Bay

October 6, 2017

IST 522 Instructional Design

Dr. Jeanne Farrington

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SLO

Student Learning Outcomes: Project Description

This project provides West Hills College faculty and staff an orientation and training in

the development and use of effective and measurable - Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). The

e-learning module will consist of lessons, practice drills and quizzes on the rationale for, and the

techniques for building SLOs. These lessons will include advice, direction and other forms of

feedback within the content to guide the learner to form critical thinking and decision-making

skills regarding the creation and assessment of effective and measureable SLOs.

Needs Assessment Results

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) grants (and

denies) accreditation for the region of which West Hills College Coalinga (WHCC) is situated.

As a result of the most recent accreditation visit, WHCC is “on warning” but remains accredited

(Winn & Rodriguez, 2017). The “warning” recommendation cited a handful of issues, most of

which focused on the College’s lack of progress in developing, and assessing Student Learning

Outcomes.

This project addresses several of the non-compliance issues (Snow-Flamer, 2017)

regarding the ACCJC’s requirements and standards that there be established SLOs for every

course offered by the institution (ACCJC Accreditation Standards, 2014).

Rationale and Outcomes for Project

Rationale and Outcomes for Project

As a member of the faculty of West Hills College Coalinga, one of my responsibilities is

to participate in periodic course assessments.. Without well-written, measureable SLOs, this task

becomes nearly impossible to complete efficiently and effectively. Faculty are also expected to
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SLO

join in participatory governance activities and another of my responsibilities is membership on -

the SLO Committee representing learning area SMK (Science, Math, and Kinesiology). It seems

that the majority of our time in committee is spent on helping and guiding course authors in the

development of meaningful and quantifiably measurable student learning outcomes. After this

feedback to the course author, they leave us to rework their SLO proposal and resubmit it for the

next approval cycle. The delays in ‘not getting it right the first time (or second time)’ introduces

delays in our other committee work, delays in assessing courses and, ultimately delays in the

main goal of improving courses.

After formal discussions in SLO Committee meetings and informal discussions with a

handful of faculty and the president of the college, we have come to the conclusion that one way

of reducing these delays would be to provide the authors of the SLOs with training on how to

build meaningful SLOs for their discipline, and how to craft those SLOs such that they are

measureable.

There are several outcomes for this project:

1. All participants gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to develop effective

and measureable SLOs.

2. SLOs will advance through the vetting process more smoothly and quickly

3. All courses will have well-written and measureable SLOs within the next nine months

4. West Hills College Coalinga is compliant with ACCJC requirements

The Learners

There are two target groups of learners: faculty and staff. Assessment of college courses

is in the purview of the faculty. It is the charge of the faculty to develop curriculum, build

Student Learning Outcomes for that curriculum, and to devise and implement corresponding
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SLO

assessment tools on a regular basis. Therefore, all faculty will be invited to complete the

proposed training module as well as those selected staff (including administrators), who work

directly with the SLO and curriculum possesses..

SLOs have been a hot topic of discussion for the past several months due to the

increasing attention given to the accrediting report and the current issues with WHCC being out

of compliance with ACCJC’s standards. The training will address some common misconceptions

or preconceived notions, give the learner foundational information about SLOs (including

rationale), and provide the basis for developing effective, measureable SLOs. By the end of the

module all learner should be confident in their skills set to recognize and create measureable

SLOs.

Logistical Information

Considering the available resources to all potential learners, an e-learning module shared

via the college’s Canvas Learning Management System (Canvas LMS) will provide the

flexibility and on-demand access (7/24) learners need. Since the module is in the cloud (on

Canvas LMS), the learner can access the module from any place they have an electronic device

connected to the internet (smart phone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer ...). Additionally, given

that the learners are already familiar with the technology platform, less time and training will be

need to be dedicated to orientation to the learning environment. The module will take the average

learner one hour to complete.

The module consists of four main topics:

• The Background – history and rationale for student learning outcomes (~ 10 minutes)

• Recognizing Measurability – (~ 15 minutes)

• Developing Student Learning Outcomes – ( ~ 25 minutes)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SLO

• Assessment Tools – (~ 10 minutes)

The three later components will have similar structure:

• Pre-test and/or Breaking Misconceptions – interactive video with assessment

• Primary lesson – interactive video/presentation with voice over with feedback

• Post-test – interactive video with assessment

All images will have alternative text, videos will have spoken narrative and closed captioning,

and any non-voiced text will be formatted for screen readers so as to comply with the Americans

with Disability Act (ADA).

Conclusion

The primary chain of rationale for the need of this project is: faculty and staff need to improve

their skills set to recognize and develop measureable SLOs → all courses will have developed

and approved SLOs → WHCC will meet the ACCJC’s SLO requirement. An e-learning module

is the best solution to this problem to affect the most change in the shortest period.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: SLO

References

ACCJC Accreditation Standards. (2014). Retrieved from The Accrediting Commission for

Community and Junior Colleges: https://accjc.org/eligibility-requirements-standards-

policies/#accreditation-standards

Snow-Flamer, K. (2017). Evaluation Team Report. Novato: ACCJC.

Winn, R., & Rodriguez, R. (2017, June 23). West Hills College Coalinga Accreditation.

Retrieved from West Hills College Coalinga ACCJC Letter:

http://www.westhillscollege.com/coalinga/about/accreditation/documents/20170623-

whc-accjc-letter.pdf