Assessment & Curricular Change

Overview

Assessment of student learning is a critical part of the teaching and learning process, serving as a foundation for curricular change. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, instructors  systematically gauge how effectively students are learning. This approach provides valuable insights for both instructors and students, revealing whether learning outcomes are being achieved in the classroom and informing necessary adjustments to the curriculum.

While course and program assessment may be grounded in the same processes for data collection and reliance on data to assess the achievement of learning outcomes, their purpose and scope differ. Course assessment focuses on the achievement of immediate and specifically defined student learning outcomes within a course to improve learning and instructional methods. By systematically tracking student learning, instructors can make informed decisions to enhance their teaching strategies and course content and students can adjust their learning strategies.  This continuous feedback loop is essential for driving curricular adjustments at the course level, ensuring that the curriculum remains relevant and meaningful.

Program assessment addresses more complex and long-term achievement of holistic learning outcomes for a degree. This broader assessment is crucial for informing curricular changes that align with institutional and program goals as well as the evolving needs of disciplinary and professional fields, ultimately leading to improvements in the educational environment and student success.

At the Searle Center, we are eager to collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to increase institutional capacity for assessing student learning and driving curricular change.

Assessment at Northwestern University

Learning & Teaching Guides

Discover our comprehensive guides, developed by or in partnership with the Searle Center, to support educators' and administrators' work to enhance assessment practices and drive curricular change.

• Designing Rubrics for Clear and Transparent Assessment (Coming Soon)

Further Resources

Our current recommendations for both foundational and leading-edge content related to assessment and curricular change.

Calendar of Events

Below are all of our upcoming events related to assessment and curricular change.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Lina Eskew, Senior Assistant Director of Equitable Assessment at lina.eskew@northwestern.edu.