Resources

Assessment Basics

• Formative vs. Summative Assessment
  • Explanation of the difference between formative and summative assessment.
• Assessment vs. Grading
  • Explanation of the difference between assessing learning and grading performance.
• FAQs and Definitions related to Assessment
  • Frequently asked questions about definitions, processes, and methods of assessment.

Assessing Student Learning

• Assessing Students’ Prior Knowledge
  • Suggested activities to use to assess what students already know.
• Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs)
  • Explanation of CATs (quick strategies to check student learning) and how to use them.
• Using Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs)
  • List of some simple CATs to use in your classes.
• How to assess student learning and performance
  • Tips for creating assignments and exams, and using concept maps and groupwork to assess student learning.
• Assessing Learning in Courses
  • List of direct and indirect measures for assessing student learning.
• Student Assessment in Teaching & Learning
  • Information about student assessment, including its purposes and methods.
• Blackboard tools to assess student learning (Links to the OIT website)
  • Assignments in Blackboard
  • Tests & Quizzes in Blackboard
  • Discussion Boards in Blackboard
  • Groups in Blackboard

Rubrics

• Creating a Rubric – Tutorial
  • Step-by-step guide to creating a rubric.
• Creating and Using Rubrics
  • Explanation of what a rubric is and helpful recommendations for creating and using them.
• Rubistar
  • Online tool for creating rubrics.
• Examples of Rubrics
  • Collection of sample rubrics for different student products.
• Using Rubrics in Brightspace
  • Scroll to the section “Use Rubrics for Assignments”

Assessing your Teaching

• End-of-semester Course Evaluations at PNW
  • Information about how course evaluations are done at PNW.

• Motivating Students
  • This site from Vanderbilt University explains different types of motivation and shares strategies for motivating students.
• Twenty Tips on Motivating Students
  • 20 quick tips for motivating your students from the University of Nebraska.
• Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation (pdf file)
  • handout listing many strategies you can use to increase student motivation
• The Impact of the Growth Mindset
  • Overview of Carol Dweck’s work related to the growth mindset and how it impacts learning
• The Power of Believing that You Can Improve (video)
  • TED talk by Carol Dweck discussing the importance of students’ mindsets in the learning process.
• Mentoring is the Best Form of Giving Forward 
  • Editorial by Chancellor Keon that appeared in Northwest Indiana Times

• Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom
  • A FREE online course being offered by Columbia University via edX.
• Guide for Inclusive Teaching (Columbia University)
  • Explanation of 5 principles to implement to create a supportive learning environment for all students.
• Inclusive Pedagogy Guide (University of Chicago
  • Collection of resources to help improve student learning by removing
    barriers to inclusion
• Inclusive Teaching Practices Toolkit (ACUE)
  • Collection of resources related to 10 inclusive teaching practices.
• Principles & Strategies for Inclusive Teaching
  • Reflect on your teaching in relation to specific strategies for fostering five dimensions of inclusive teaching.
• Inclusive Teaching (Harvard University)
  • Resources and guidance for inclusive course design and teaching, including a section on how to navigate difficult moments in the classroom and an inventory of inclusive teaching practices.
• Developing a Positive Classroom Climate
  • Summary of research-based practices for creating a positive classroom climate.
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Higher Education
  • Presents an educational framework for designing and teaching a course with the diversity of students in mind.

• PNW Office of Instructional Technology

Purdue is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity, which grants Purdue faculty access to a number of resources.

Membership benefits include:

• Weekly Monday Motivator Email Messages
• Monthly Core Curriculum Webinars (and recordings of webinars for convenient access)
• Monthly Guest Expert Webinars
• Monthly accountability buddy match
• Moderated monthly writing challenges

Steps to activate your institution-sponsored membership:

1. Go to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity website.
2. Click the “Become a Member” button and choose “Purdue University” from the list of institutions.
3. Click “Activate My Membership.”
4. Provide the requested information, being sure to use your Purdue* (NOT PNW) email address.  You can create any password you wish; it does not use your Purdue password.
5. Provide the requested personal and professional information.
6. Click “Continue” to complete the registration process.

*Please note that you MUST use your @purdue.edu email address to activate your membership.  Your Purdue email account uses your Career account username followed by “@purdue.edu”.

List of books and active learning resources available for checkout in the Center for Faculty Excellence

CFE Library & Resources

The Center for Faculty Excellence has many books and resources available to support your teaching and professional development.

Active Learning Resources

To support instructors’ use of active learning techniques, the Center for Faculty Excellence has the following available for checkout.  Please contact the Center to arrange pick-up in Hammond (Gyte 140) or Westville (SWRZ 155).

• Active Learning bags – contains set of Plickers, index cards, post-it notes, dry erase markers, Crayola markers, deck of cards, dice, ABCD response cards, and ideas for using these tools
• Large, table top easels with paper (can be stuck to walls) and dry erase boards
• multiple packs of Crayola markers (to use on easel paper or other paper)
• dry erase markers
• post-it notes

CFE Library

These books are available for checkout in the Center for Faculty Excellence office on the Hammond campus located in Gyte 140, and can be delivered to your office in Hammond or Westville. Please feel free to stop by and browse the selections. New items are being added frequently.