Assessment of Student Learning

What is Assessment of Student Learning?

Assessment of student learning is an ongoing process aimed at understanding and
improving student learning. It involves setting goals and standards for student
learning and then systematically gathering and analyzing evidence to determine
how well student performance matches those expectations and standards. The main
goals in the assessment of student learning are: 1) to document what learning is
taking place and, 2) to use the results of assessment activities to improve student
learning.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College is committed to having strong programs.
Consequently, assessment of student learning is an important part of our strategy
to maintain and improve programs at the college.
At Anoka-Ramsey students are involved in many types of assessments of their
learning. Most of these are related to concepts and skills that are learned in a
particular course. However, the college is interested in evaluating student learning
over broader goal areas as well, which is what assessment of student learning is all
about. Knowing about their own learning can also assist students in their
educational and career planning.
What are the Broader Goal Areas for Student Learning at Anoka-Ramsey Community
College?
The broader goal areas, which are the college-wide goals for student learning, are
known as the Guiding Principles. They are:
1. Clear Thinking - Thinking through reasoning, creating and reflecting.
2. Effective Communication - Integrating information with experience and
expressing insight.
3. Accepting Diversity - Understanding and respecting individuals and local,
regional, national, and global communities.
4. Ethical Decision-Making - Maintaining responsibility for environmental, economic,
social, and personal concerns.
All programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College emphasize experiences that
promote learning in these four areas. In addition, each program also has more
specific goals that students are expected to master in the course of program
completion. For example, many students attend Anoka-Ramsey to complete the AA
degree, which includes 10 goals for general education. Other students may plan to

complete the nursing RN program, which also has specific learning goals related to
nursing that are assessed throughout the program.

Although each program has its own specific learning goals, general education is a
component of all degrees and most programs at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

What are the Goal Areas for General Education?

There are ten goal areas for student learning in general education that are
described by the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC). These goals areas are:
1. Communication
2. Critical Thinking
3. Natural Sciences
4. Mathematical/Logical Reasoning
5. History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
6. The Humanities and Fine Arts
7. Human Diversity
8. Global Perspective
9. Ethical and Civic Responsibility
10. People and the Environment