Introduction
The assessment plan for the Master of Science in Education - Instructional Technology, which was previously approved, has a focus on student performance and achievement of the department's and program's objectives. Student performance and achievement are measured primarily in two ways: presentation portfolios and surveys.
All students create and submit web-based presentation portfolios prior to the completion of the program. These portfolios are evaluated by the Instructional Technology Graduate Committee and are reviewed by the Department of Teacher Education's Graduate Committee. These portfolios will reflect compliance with the objectives of the program, which are based on ISTE Standards, American Library Association/Association for Computing in Educational Technology Information Literacy Standards, and the department's objectives.
The surveys are completed by two groups: program alumni and professional colleagues outside of the College of Education. All graduates of the program will be surveyed. The critical friend survey will be sent to approximately 15 selected professional colleagues who are familiar with and interested in the program. They will be principals, superintendents, supervisors, employers, Educational Service Unit (ESU) representatives, and similar individuals who have direct knowledge of the competencies of our graduates.
Schedule of Assessments
The presentation portfolios assessment will be conducted no later than three weeks prior to graduation every semester. Those dates are approximately: 15 November, 15 April, and 20 July of each year. A report of student performance by the Instructional Technology Graduate Program Committee will be submitted to the Department's Graduate Program Committee (GPC). After review by the GPC, a report will be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
The Alumni Surveys will be administered no sooner than two years after graduation to all students. The delay of two years is to ensure that the graduates have had ample opportunity to use their knowledge and skills and to determine their own preparation, competence, and knowledge base in the work environment. The surveys will be sent in May. The first survey will be sent in May of 2004 for the graduates from 1999 to 2002. A second survey will be administered in May of 2007 for the 2003-2005 graduates. A similar pattern will follow.
The Critical Friends Survey will be administered in May of 2004 also. A second survey will be conducted in May of 2007 and will be repeated every three years.
Presentation Portfolios
The web based presentation portfolios will be evaluated using ISTE and other applicable standards. The portfolios will be maintained for a minimum of two years after graduation and available for evaluation by outside accreditation bodies, such as NCA and NCATE.
Surveys
The surveys will be analyzed by the Instructional Technology Program Committee or a sub committee. The Committee will review the findings to determine what program modifications need to be implemented and will do so following department and Graduate College guidelines.
Although the Critical Friends survey has not been administered in its current form as of yet, a pilot survey was conducted using interview techniques during the past three years. The results of those interviews led to the development of the survey instrument and to the major modifications to the program which have recently been approved and implement.