Value of internal quality assessment
Why is the library currently focusing on internal quality? Why not work on assessing student learning outcomes first?
Establishing a culture with a strategic approach to goals, objectives, and assessment is an necessary first step.
- Media as microcosm: instructional content lacks clear objectives (and assessment exercises) because it has not been part of library practices.
- No assessment is possible unless you can define what you are assessing; establishing standards for specific, measurable objectives will support overall outcomes assessment.
- Instructional quality assessments are part of a larger library instruction program review.
Accomplishing the "easy win" of interal quality assessment provides a foundation for future assessment projects.
- Ensuring quality content controls one of the variables in the instruction process.
- Defining our internal quality refines and clarifies the overall goals of library resources and services.
- Establishing departmental best practices for strategic objectives and assessments prepares us for collaboration with institutional research and other University partners.
Key Take-aways
- Clarify and define the parameters of quality for your services and your institution.
- Balance research best practices with the needs of your library.
- Define specific and measurable objectives for your services or products.
- The better you can clarify desired outcomes, the easier it is translate them into measurements.
- Test your measurement instruments with appropriate stakeholders
- Do not fear drafts and iterations!