{"id":37,"date":"2025-10-22T12:51:03","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T12:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/xabout\/?page_id=37"},"modified":"2025-11-05T16:33:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T16:33:15","slug":"learning-assessment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/mission-vision\/learning-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning &#038; Assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"su-tabs su-tabs-style-default su-tabs-mobile-stack\" data-active=\"1\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-tabs-nav\"><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Principles of Education<\/span><span class=\"\" data-anchor=\"gened\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">General Education Abilities<\/span><span class=\"\" data-anchor=\"assessment\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Assessment<\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-tabs-panes\"><div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"Principles of Education\">\n<p>These principles articulate the implicit assumptions regarding teaching and learning held dear by members of 911爆料网 and represent the ideals to which the 911爆料网 community aspires. They apply to all members of the 911爆料网 community\u2014students, employees and trustees.<\/p>\n<p>These principles intend to provide a foundation on which members of the community develop and teach courses, engage students, hire faculty and staff, design professional development activities and structure budgets. These principles should inform the daily, habitual life of all members of the college, having both immediate and lasting impact. As teaching and learning are at the heart of the college, these principles appropriately shall guide the college into the future.<\/p>\n<p>The college maintains a learning environment that values the process of learning as much as the knowledge taught; an environment that encourages independent thinking and divergent activities; and an environment that elevates members of the community and inspires them to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Develop independent and interdependent, lifelong learning strategies<\/li>\n<li>Nurture their aspirations, confidence, curiosity, imagination, self-respect and responsibility to others<\/li>\n<li>Explore and adapt to new ideas in both work and leisure<\/li>\n<li>Understand social change and individual development and take responsibility for sustaining both<\/li>\n<li>Accept the constancy of change and cope with, adapt to and manage change effectively in all areas of one\u2019s life<\/li>\n<li>Possess self-determination with a realistic assessment of one\u2019s aptitudes and inclinations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Members of the 911爆料网 community have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes that empower them to clarify values, express ideas, solve problems, and embrace learning as a life-long process.<\/p>\n<h2>Diversity and Community<\/h2>\n<p>The college creates and fosters an environment for work and learning in which one may achieve a level of comfort with one\u2019s individuality and culture, while accepting and respecting the individuality and cultures of others. The college encourages each member of its community to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognize how the foundation of one\u2019s ideals and values emanate from one\u2019s particular background and experience<\/li>\n<li>Participate in communities as both teacher and learner, connecting with others, sharing thoughts and creating knowledge while taking advantage of an open environment that values critical thinking and civil discourse<\/li>\n<li>Enhance one\u2019s understanding of various forms of discrimination and oppression while embracing the principles of access to promote equitable opportunity for all in the teaching and learning experience<\/li>\n<li>Explore, understand, and respect the tenacity and validity of diverse values and heritage<\/li>\n<li>Appreciate the interconnectedness of global events and issues and one\u2019s place in the web of life<\/li>\n<li>Develop an environment that encourages active learning and values the differing approaches of all community members<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Literacy and Communication<\/h2>\n<p>The college promotes effective expression in many forms for making public meaning and personal significance. Symbolic interpretation and representation of ideas and emotions, using logical and aesthetic systems that cultivate various modes of self-expression, contribute to successful interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. The college policies and practices ensure that all its members continue to develop their capacities to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enhance literacy in all areas\u2014reading, listening, viewing, writing, speaking, creating, and movement<\/li>\n<li>Reason quantitatively, using numerical data to meet personal and vocational needs and to respond to a world increasingly dependent on the understanding of a broad range of quantitative concepts and processes<\/li>\n<li>Identify a need for information and know how and where to find it<\/li>\n<li>Use language to communicate effectively with other individuals and groups, including basic functional ability in a language other than one\u2019s own<\/li>\n<li>Function constructively in both a leadership and participatory role within groups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Knowledge and Thinking<\/h2>\n<p>The college expects members of the community to think critically and to conduct disciplined inquiry, using both their minds and hearts in order to understand the complexity and simplicity of ideas and actions; to prioritize and make decisions; to identify and solve problems; to evaluate and judge; in short, to think independently. The college encourages each member to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access, organize, interpret, evaluate, synthesize and apply information<\/li>\n<li>Reflect on and assess information and knowledge from differing perspectives<\/li>\n<li>Develop knowledge of one\u2019s feelings, values and biases and how they relate to one\u2019s thinking and behavior<\/li>\n<li>Integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines to make thoughtful and informed decisions<\/li>\n<li>Base decisions on factual and affective evidence rather than on unexamined opinions<\/li>\n<li>Determine the nature of a problem, analyze the problem and implement an appropriate solution, applying scholarly theories and methods where appropriate<\/li>\n<li>Evaluate, integrate and adapt to technological change<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Adopted by the 911爆料网 Assembly, May 17, 2004<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"General Education Abilities\">\n<p>The College expects students to develop foundations and skills for lifelong learning, including the following General Education Abilities:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Appreciate diverse cultural and individual perspectives<\/li>\n<li>Solve problems collaboratively<\/li>\n<li>Reason and act ethically<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate civic knowledge and engagement<\/li>\n<li>Communicate in various modes and media<\/li>\n<li>Use quantitative concepts and processes<\/li>\n<li>Locate, evaluate and use various sources of information<\/li>\n<li>Explore the natural and physical world<\/li>\n<li>Think creatively and critically<\/li>\n<li>Apply, integrate, and synthesize learning<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>Adopted unanimously by the 911爆料网 Assembly on May 2, 2011<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"Assessment\">\n<div class=\"lead\">At 911爆料网 we <strong>routinely incorporate assessment into our work<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-row\"><div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-2\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<p><strong>Learning Outcomes Assessment<\/strong> (LOA) is a high priority at 911爆料网, reflecting our strong commitment to student development and the ongoing improvement of our programs and services. By gathering and interpreting information about student learning, LOA helps us understand whether students are achieving the knowledge and skills we intend through both academic and co-curricular experiences.<\/p>\n<p>This process is more than evaluation\u2014it is a thoughtful and intentional response to change, ensuring that we remain student-centered and adaptive to evolving needs. Ultimately, LOA provides insight into how our students\u2019 experiences at 911爆料网 make a lasting difference in their lives, while guiding us in our shared mission of continuous improvement in student learning.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div> <div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-2\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<div id=\"BrehenyM\" class=\"directory-entry container-fluid \"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/354\/files\/2024\/02\/MarieBreheny.jpg\" alt=\"Marie Breheny\"><\/div><div class=\"col-md-10\"><p class=\"name\">Marie Breheny<\/p><p class=\"title\">Director of Institutional Effectiveness<\/p><p class=\"dept\">Institutional Research<\/p><p class=\"contact\"><span class=\"email\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-envelope\"><\/i> <a href=\"mailto:BrehenyM@gcc.mass.edu\">BrehenyM@gcc.mass.edu<\/a> <\/span><span class=\"phone\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-phone\"><\/i> (413) 775-1397 <\/span><span class=\"loc\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-building\"><\/i> S208 <\/span><div class=\"degrees\"><p>BS, Fordham University, MS, Iona College, EDS, PhD, Florida Institute of Technology<\/p><\/div><div class=\"directory-bio\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"DurrettS\" class=\"directory-entry container-fluid \"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-md-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/354\/files\/2025\/05\/IMG-3134.jpg\" alt=\"Shawn Durrett\"><\/div><div class=\"col-md-10\"><p class=\"name\">Shawn Durrett<\/p><p class=\"title\">Associate Director of Learning Outcomes Assessment<\/p><p class=\"dept\">Institutional Effectiveness<\/p><p class=\"contact\"><span class=\"email\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-envelope\"><\/i> <a href=\"mailto:DurrettS@gcc.mass.edu\">DurrettS@gcc.mass.edu<\/a> <\/span><span class=\"phone\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-phone\"><\/i> (413) 775-1401 <\/span><span class=\"loc\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-building\"><\/i> S329 <\/span><div class=\"degrees\"><p>BA, Macalester College, MFA, University of Michigan<\/p><\/div><div class=\"directory-bio\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>The Assessment Cycle at 911爆料网<\/h2>\n<p>Programs follow a three-year Assessment Cycle so that all of their Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) have been assessed in any given three-year period. PLOs are clearly-articulated statements about the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students will attain as the result of their successful participation in and completion of a particular Associates Degree, Certificate, or co-curricular activity. The three-year assessment cycle starts with developing or reviewing learning outcomes for the program, and mapping those outcomes onto delivery points in the curriculum. Student assignments are used as evidence of learning and rated for accomplishment of the outcomes using some measurement like a rubric or exam questions. The data is analyzed to determine how well, on the whole, students are achieving the outcomes. Where achievement does not hit the desired level, programs close the loop by designing program modifications, and then the cycle begins again.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>Committee on Learning Outcomes Assessment<\/strong>\u00a0was newly formed in the spring of the 2021-2022 academic year. The committee charge is to work with the ADLOA to provide faculty support and guidance on Learning Outcomes Assessment at 911爆料网, including caretaking of General Education learning outcomes. CLOA receives any revisions to Program Learning Outcomes and passes those to the Curriculum and Academic Policy (CAP) Committee. CLOA works to inspire a culture of ongoing learning improvement using assessment to facilitate student success, and to ensure the continued institutional integrity of our courses and programs. Assessment is not evaluation of faculty or staff, but of student learning achievement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":35,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_custom_body_class":"","_custom_post_class":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-37","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37\/revisions\/100"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/about\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}