UW–Madison Assessment Manual

Using Assessment for Academic Program Improvement

Revised April 2009 

Contact: Mo Noonan Bischof
Assistant Vice Provost and University Assessent Council Co-Chair
University of Wisconsin–Madison 
150 Bascom Hall 
500 Lincoln Drive 
Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1380 
Tele: (608) 262-5246 
E-mail: mabischof@wisc.edu 
Fax: (608) 265-3353 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. UW–Madison's Assessment Approach
  4. UW–Madison Assessment Planning Chart  
  5. Developing a Departmental Assessment Plan
  6. Assessment Instruments and Methods Available for Assessing Student Learning in the Major
    1. Direct Indicators of Learning 
      1. Capstone Course Evaluation 
      2. Course-Embedded Assessment 
      3. Tests and Examinations (Locally/Faculty Designed and Commercially Produced Standardized Tests) 
      4. Portfolio Evaluation 
      5. Pre-test/Post-test Evaluation 
      6. Thesis Evaluation 
      7. Videotape and Audiotape Evaluation of Performance
    2. Indirect Indicators of Learning 
      1. External Reviewers 
      2. Student Surveying and Exit Interviewing 
      3. Alumni Surveying 
      4. Employer Surveying 
      5. Curriculum and Syllabus Analysis
  7. UW–Madison Campus-Based Assessment Resources
  8. Conclusion
Appendix A: University Assessment Council 
Appendix B: Developing an Assessment Plan in the Major