Language of evaluation: How PLA evaluators write about student learning

Authors

  • 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

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v12i1.946

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., … 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