It would be of little value to gather information on student learning outcomes without gathering and using the information on student experiences, classroom teaching techniques and institutional and environmental conditions that led to the outcomes. Paying attention to outcomes will lead to more attention paid to the processes of teaching and learning. Remember, too, that each individual student does not have to be assessed. Identified cohorts of classes can be selected for assessment. Assessment asks how the student will demonstrate success and learning in these areas.
Criteria show what constitutes a successful demonstration.
The goal of teaching is to help students learn. In order for us to do this most effectively, the teacher and student must know how well the student is doing in reaching the educational outcome desired. A parallel process occurs in institution-wide assessment. The department, unit, school, students, administrators, teachers must all know how well each is doing in reaching outcomes and objectives.