Assessment and Evaluation
Workshops
DIIA hosts a variety of evaluation and assessment workshops for faculty, administrators,
and staff to seamlessly embed assessment activities such as efficient information
collection and analysis that can inform decisions about program efforts. In
these two-hour sessions, participants discuss and apply various techniques for
assessing learning outcomes, and gain insight on how to best use these results
in the classroom and beyond.
Instructional Assessment
Through its component centers, DIIA's staff and facilities are available to help UT Austin systematically
examine particular aspects of classroom instruction.
Instructional Assessment Resources
Faculty, students, educational researchers, and staff assessing classroom instruction, instructional technologies, or instructional programs—or developing an evaluation plan for a research
grant—will find guidance in planning, executing, and
analyzing their assessment in DIIA's Instructional Assessment Resources.
Outcomes Assessment
Outcomes assessment illustrates the effectiveness of a program
in relation to program goals. With its focus on student learning, outcomes assessment
indicates the extent to which students can demonstrate knowledge, skills, and
behaviors that are consistent with program goals. Like teaching, the purpose
of assessment is to ensure that students are learning what you intend for them
to learn.
Ongoing Course Assessment
Research on teaching shows that frequent feedback from students can help instructors better meet students'
needs. DIIA offers an online tool, the Ongoing Course Assessment (OCA) system, for course feedback. Alternatively, DIIA staff can meet with instructors who would like to design midsemester and/or
ongoing feedback instruments for their classes. Contact Dr. Karron Lewis at 232-1776 or kglewis@mail.utexas.edu.
Credit by Exam and Course Placement
DIIA conducts the credit by examination program, through which students can earn credit for introductory courses. The Division also administers exams used to determine proficiency level for course placement purposes. In addition, DIIA operates the College-Level Examination Program or CLEP Open Test Center for non-UT Austin students.
Testing and Grading Strategies
The Divison offers consulting as well as printed and online resources, most notably the Teachers and Students UT Austin sourcebook.
Course-Instructor Survey
The university's primary tool for surveying student opinions of courses and instruction is administered by DIIA. Details on sign-up, using the survey, customizing it, and getting results are available here. Survey results from the last three years are available online to UTEID holders.
Test Scanning Services
Free Scantron answer sheet scanning services for classwork are available to UT faculty at the Bridgeway (BWY) building, 2616 Wichita Street. Research projects and surveys can be scanned and analyzed for a fee.
Assessment Showcase
UT faculty and staff demonstrate examples of assessment best practices, tools, and techniques used to evaluate various aspects related to classroom instruction at the Assessment Showcase event.