ND CSE Assessment FAQ

• Do I have to keep all grades on each sub-problem?
• Does it need to be graded?
• Could you give an example?

Do I have to keep all grades on each sub-problem?

No, you simply need to be able to map at least one or more specific graded items to the course objective in question from the course syllabus objectives (which should correspond with the ABET records). The specific measurement should be specific enough that it focuses on either a single or a handful of objectives. It can be any graded deliverable.

• Good: Short answer questions on Exam 1 covers objective 1
• Good: Weekly quiz 7 covers objective 1
• Good: Homework 3 covers objective 1
• OK: Exam 1 covers objectives 1 and 2
• Bad: Exam 1 covers objectives 1-8

Does it need to be graded?

Yes, it should be a direct measurement. It cannot be a survey-based instrument (i.e. asking students their opinion if they met a particular objective).

Could you give an example?

For Fundamentals of Computing I, I recorded a problem by problem breakdown for each of the three exams (1, 2, Final) that listed the score for each student on each particular problem. As this can be a bit time consuming, it is best done by the TA grading for the course.

The metric for success was defined as a class average of 70% on specific sections, short answer, specific programming problem, with that mapped to the specific objectives in question. For a more detailed assessment example, please contact Amitabh.