Self Reported Instrument For Measuring Student Learning Outcomes

Project PROCEED is dedicated towards providing more hands-on and project-centered classroom learning opportunities in the mechanical engineering department at The University of Texas at Austin. One of the challenges of PROCEED is assessing its impact on student learning. We have been developing and piloting an instrument for assessing how well these PROCEED courses are satisfying the departmental student learning outcomes. Based upon an assessment instrument used by Addington and Johnson at VMI (1999), this instrument measures the quantity and quality of learning opportunities and student achievements relative to the student learning outcomes. All results are selfreported by the students using a 5 point Likert scale. The instrument was first piloted Summer 2002 then extensively revised and given again during the Fall 2002. This paper will describe the considerations during the design of the instrument, the input from the pilot, and the revisions made. A copy of the instrument is included in the appendix.