How do you assess the learning outcomes of an internationalized curriculum?

2 Choose the assessment methods

Choose the appropriate methods to collect and analyze evidence of students' achievement of the learning outcomes. Assessment methods can be divided into two main categories: direct and indirect. Direct methods are those that require students to demonstrate their learning through performance tasks, such as exams, essays, presentations, portfolios, or simulations. Indirect methods are those that rely on students' self-reports, perceptions, or opinions, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or reflections. Both direct and indirect methods have their strengths and limitations, and they should be used in combination to provide a comprehensive and balanced picture of students' learning.

3 Align the assessment with the curriculum

Align the assessment with the curriculum, ensuring that there is coherence and consistency between the learning outcomes, the learning activities, and the assessment methods. This is also known as constructive alignment, and it helps to enhance the validity and reliability of the assessment, as well as the transparency and fairness for the students. Alignment can be achieved by using a curriculum mapping tool, which is a visual representation of how the learning outcomes, the learning activities, and the assessment methods are linked across the curriculum. Curriculum mapping can also help to identify gaps, overlaps, or redundancies in the curriculum, and to inform improvement and innovation.

4 Apply the assessment criteria and standards

Apply the assessment criteria and standards, which are the benchmarks or indicators that define the expected levels of performance or quality for each learning outcome. Assessment criteria and standards should be clear, explicit, and communicated to the students in advance so they know what is expected of them and how they will be evaluated. Assessment criteria and standards can be expressed in different ways, such as rubrics, checklists, rating scales, or exemplars. They should also be aligned with the learning outcomes and the assessment methods, and reflect the internationalized nature of the curriculum.

5 Provide feedback and feedforward

Provide feedback and feedforward, which are essential components of the assessment process that support students' learning and development. Feedback is the information that is given to students about their performance or progress, such as strengths, weaknesses, areas for improvement, or suggestions for action. Feedforward is the information that is given to students about how to improve their future performance or progress, such as goals, strategies, resources, or opportunities. Feedback and feedforward should be timely, specific, constructive, and actionable, and they should encourage students to reflect on their learning and to take responsibility for their own improvement.

6 Evaluate and improve the assessment

This is an ongoing process that involves collecting and analyzing data on the effectiveness and impact of the assessment on students' learning outcomes, as well as on the quality and relevance of the curriculum. Evaluation can be done at different levels — such as individual, course, program, or institutional — and it can involve different stakeholders, such as students, teachers, peers, or external reviewers. Evaluation can also use different sources of evidence, such as student performance data, student feedback data, curriculum mapping data, or benchmarking data. Evaluation can help to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the assessment, as well as the areas for improvement or innovation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?