ConnectED

Assessment of general education refers to the systematic process of evaluating how effectively a university's general education program is meeting its intended learning goals. It involves collecting and analyzing samples of student work to find evidence of important skills, and informing practices to enhance student learning and success.

We assess general education at the program level to ensure that students are acquiring the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for success in their academic, personal, and professional lives.

As a faculty member teaching a ConnectED course, it's important to know that each course is aligned with one or more learning goals, which are evaluated in 3-year cycles. If your course is linked to the learning goal that's scheduled for assessment in a particular year, you'll need to choose an assignment that showcases the relevant skills, and your students will be required to submit a copy of the completed assignment to the assessment system.

Check out the ConnectED assignment library to see examples of assignments created by VCU colleagues. You can also visit the NILOA Assignment Library for additional resources.

Explaining the purpose of general education and why assessment is important can go a long way in helping students to see the benefit of participating in the process.  Take time in class to explain the process and share that this is a valuable step in making sure students are learning necessary skills. Teaching students to recognize and articulate the skills they are learning will empower them to convey these skills to others in the pursuit of future educational and career opportunities.