Language of evaluation: How PLA evaluators write about student learning

  • Nan L. Travers SUNY/Empire State College
  • Bernard Smith SUNY/Empire State College
  • Leslie Ellis SUNY/Empire State College
  • Tom Brady SUNY/ Empire State College
  • Liza Feldman SUNY/Empire State College
  • Kameylah Hakim SUNY/Empire State College
  • Bhuwan Onta SUNY/Empire State College
  • Maria Panayotou SUNY/Empire State College
  • Laurie Seamans SUNY?Empire State College
  • Amanda Treadwell SUNY/Empire State College
Keywords: Prior Learning Assessment, Assessing Learning

Abstract

Very few studies (e.g., Arnold, 1998; Joosten-ten Brinke, et al., 2009) have examined the ways in which evaluators assess students’ prior learning. This investigation explored the ways that evaluators described students’ prior learning in final assessment reports at a single, multiple-location institution. Results found four themes; audience, voice, presentation of the learning, and evaluation language. Within each theme, further sub-themes are defined. These results are significant for training evaluators on how to discuss student learning and for institutions to consider in relationship to the purpose behind the evaluations. Further research and implications are discussed.

Author Biographies

Nan L. Travers, SUNY/Empire State College
Director of Collegewide Academic Review
Bernard Smith, SUNY/Empire State College
Director of Academic Review, Center for Distance Learning
Leslie Ellis, SUNY/Empire State College
Director of Academic Review, Hudson Valley Center
Tom Brady, SUNY/ Empire State College
Assessment Specialist, Hudson Valley Center
Liza Feldman, SUNY/Empire State College
Assessment Specialist, Northeast Center
Kameylah Hakim, SUNY/Empire State College
Assessment Specialist, Niagara Frontier Center
Bhuwan Onta, SUNY/Empire State College
Assessment Specialist, Metropolitan Center
Maria Panayotou, SUNY/Empire State College
Senior Academic Review Specialist, Office of Collegewide Academic Review
Laurie Seamans, SUNY?Empire State College
Assessment Specialist, Central New York Center
Amanda Treadwell, SUNY/Empire State College
Senior Academic Review Specialist, Office of Collegewide Academic Review
Published
2011-01-31
How to Cite
Travers, N. L., Smith, B., Ellis, L., Brady, T., Feldman, L., Hakim, K., Onta, B., Panayotou, M., Seamans, L., & Treadwell, A. (2011). Language of evaluation: How PLA evaluators write about student learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 12(1), 80-95. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v12i1.946