Assessment Canvas Training (ACT)
The Assessment Canvas Training (ACT) is a self-paced, fully asynchronous Canvas course designed for all who teach at UC Davis. Through a series of interactive modules, ACT participants learn how to define, design, and develop high-impact assessments for their undergraduate courses.
Overview
The Assessment Canvas Training features 4 Core modules and 1 Explore module.
Core module topics include:
- The What and Why of Assessment
- How to Assess Student Learning
- Pedagogical Practices that Support Assessment
- Equity-Minded Assessment
In addition to the Core modules, participants are invited to explore additional assessment topics through the Explore module, which provides quick overviews and best practices on a variety of topics. The Explore module will invite you to “choose your own adventure” and learn about assessment topics that interest you.
Explore topics include:
- Writing Great Multiple Choice Exams
- Using Rubrics to Assess Student Work
- Assessment and Active Learning
- Student Learning Surveys and Other Forms of Indirect Evidence
- Core Competencies Assessment
- Experiential Learning Assessment
- Program-Level Assessment for Majors/Minors
- For Graduate Students and Postdocs: Careers in Assessment
We estimate that ACT takes about 4 hours to complete from start to finish.
Learning outcomes & intended impacts
After completing ACT, participants will be able to:
- Recall and apply fundamental assessment principles to a variety of pedagogical situations.
- Implement equity-minded assessment practices in future assessment endeavors.
- Describe a variety of topical explorations in the assessment field.
- Develop assessment action plans for future teaching efforts.
We also hope that participating in ACT will help participants feel:
- Excited about the possibilities for integrating best practices into their future teaching efforts.
- Optimistic about their capacity to develop, implement, and lead others in equity-minded assessment.
- Confident about leading assessment conversations with colleagues and in their programs/departments.
Benefits
ACT Participants gain access to a variety of resources, exploratory activities, and materials that can be used to develop and implement high-impact assessment practices in their (future) teaching.
Participants who successfully complete the course will also receive a Completion Certificate from the Center for Educational Effectiveness.
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral students who complete ACT will also qualify for a Learning Outcomes Assessment micro-credential through our partnership with the GradPathways Institute.
Eligibility
ACT is open to faculty, instructors, lecturers, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff who are involved in teaching students and/or assessing student academic performance.
Contact
Kara Moloney, Assessment Lead, kmoloney@ucdavis.edu.