Assessment Learning Exchange

A collaborative exchange among AALHE members

If you are interested in improving assessment practices or advancing the scholarship of assessment and learning, we invite you to join the Assessment Learning Exchange (ALE). This pilot project will match AALHE members, who will participate in three, 30-minute conversations (one per week for three weeks). The participants will be matched with different peers each week. During the 30 minutes, the participants converse, offer their experiences, listen, and engage in wondering and pondering about a pre-selected focal topic.

Who can participate?
AALHE members

When is the deadline to sign up? [Note: space is limited; first come, first served.]
Tuesday, June 30, 2020

How do people sign-up?
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GHC2XF5

What will we talk about?
A focal topic is provided and your conversation can go wherever you and the others want to take it. When you register, you will rank the focal topic options (below). We will do our best to match you based on your top topic choices.

• Focal topic options (you will rank these when you sign up):
• • Best practices in Academic Assessment: Why is your #1 best practice in ACADEMIC assessment effective for you and your campus context? [and how might it change because of COVID-19]
  • Best practices in Student Affairs/Co-Curricular Assessment: Why is your #1 best practice in STUDENT AFFAIRS/CO-CURRICULAR assessment effective for you and your campus context? [and how might it change because of COVID-19]
  • Closing the loop: What does this mean in your institution, and what challenges and solutions have you discovered?
  • Assessing "hard-to-assess" outcomes: What are the hardest outcomes to assess on your campus and how have you addressed this assessment challenge?
  • Showing impact: How do we best demonstrate the value of our roles as assessment professionals on campus
  • What do we do now?: Program-level learning assessment and navigating the wealth of resources in the COVID-19 crisis.

When will we meet?
The meeting dates and times are below.
If you cannot attend all three of the scheduled meetings, you cannot participate. We apologize that we cannot accommodate everyone's schedule.

Tuesday, July 14, 4:00-4:30 PM Eastern
Tuesday, July 21, 4:00-4:30 PM Eastern
Tuesday, July 28, 4:00-4:30 PM Eastern

Do I need to be an expert on the topic?
No, certainly not! You should have some experience with the topic so you can contribute to the conversation and can ask questions.

Can you explain how this works?
Here’s an example of an ALE conversation: the focal topic was rubrics (YouTube video, 12 minutes).

Each week, we match you with one or two people. In pairs/threesomes, using a video conference app that you folks agree to use (Google Hangouts, Zoom, Webex, etc.), you converse about a pre-selected focal topic/issue. The following week, you’re matched with 1-2 different people, and you converse about the focal topic. In the third and final week, you’re matched with 1-2 different people. The focal topic stays the same: the people and the ideas change.

Tip: before each ALE, prepare one question to ask and one experience to share (a learning moment or a moment you’d like advice on).

How will we meet? What technology is needed?
You, or your matches, will provide the virtual conference app (e.g., CISCO Webex, Google Hangouts, Skype, Zoom). Free conference apps exist. You need an internet or phone connection.

What will I get out of the ALE?
Participation in the ALE will help you

• enhance your practice while helping others to do increasingly valuable assessment work;
• develop new networks, meet new people, strengthen bonds;
• advance the professionalism of assessment practitioners and scholars;
• contribute to the scholarship that will advance the field.

Some ALE conversations may seed larger projects or longer-term collaborations. We encourage you to consider how your ALE “learningful” conversations could result in an AALHE conference presentation, webinar, or article in an AALHE publication.

What is the commitment?
You must be committed to attending the three, 30-minute meetings and to completing a short evaluation survey. Your colleagues will be counting on you to show, so please be respectful and show up.

You will share your email address and phone number; we and other participants promise to keep your contact information confidential.

What else should I know?
Space is limited. Please sign up only if you are committed to participation and can attend on the arranged Tuesdays. Others will be counting on you.

Who can I contact for more information?
Email us at [email protected]
Rob Flaherty, Chair, Match Subcommittee
Monica Stitt-Bergh, outgoing Chair, Professional Development Committee
Patti Gregg, incoming Chair, Professional Development Committee