Assessment of Student Learning
WHAT IS ASSESSMENT AT MIAD?
How do we know our students are learning? Through assessment. Assessment is an ongoing process for determining student achievement of the core skills essential to their success after graduation. Assessment requires the establishment of clear and measurable learning outcomes and collecting evidence that identifies how well students are achieving these outcomes.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
MIAD has three levels of learning outcomes:
- Eight College-Wide Learning Outcomes are measured across all four years of study. These outcomes are measured in the majors, as well as in Foundations and Liberal Studies courses.
- Major-Specific Learning Outcomes are assessed in each of the college’s five majors.
- Individual Course Learning Outcomes identify the specific skills, knowledge, and abilities students must master in order to receive credit for the course.
MIAD’s formal assessment activities focus on measuring College-Wide and Major-Specific Learning Outcomes. Evidence of student achievement toward these outcomes is gathered, compiled and analyzed. Faculty then meet to review, discuss, and interpret the evidence. Based on their analyses, faculty identify ways to make improvements to teaching and learning.
WHY IS ASSESSMENT AT MIAD IMPORTANT?
For two reasons:
- We want to ensure that our students are learning and that we can measure that learning.
- We are committed to continuous improvement.
Several years ago, in a book entitled Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on Campus, researchers found that many students’ skills in critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing actually decline while they are in college. That’s not very good news for the students enrolled in the colleges that the researchers studied. It suggests why many people distrust higher education. What’s the point of attending college if students’ skills decline?
At MIAD we conduct assessment to ensure our students’ skills improve throughout their college careers. Our assessment research at MIAD reveals:
- Over the past 6 years, first-year students’ critical and creative thinking skills are improving.
- Over the past 6 years, first-year students’ research, communication, and reasoning skills are improving.
- Second-year students demonstrate significant growth in critical and creative thinking skills over first-year students.
- In all majors, seniors consistently demonstrate significantly high rates of growth in their studio skills over first-year students. While first-year students show evidence of approaching competency, seniors show clear evidence of mastery.
In other words, the college has an ongoing and meaningful program for measuring our students’ learning. We have evidence that students’ skills and knowledge are growing throughout their four years. In support of their professional readiness, faculty make sure that all of our students:
- Develop learning portfolios to show evidence of their growth across four years
- Work with professional artists and designers throughout their four years
- Develop writing, communication and critical thinking skills through four required writing courses and a writing-based liberal studies education
- Develop senior exhibits and portfolios which are critiqued by professionals
At the same time, faculty are constantly reviewing student growth and seeking new ways to improve the learning experience that MIAD offers.
News
MIAD Pre-College 2024 sees record-breaking enrollment
The Summer Pre-College program at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) returned with record-breaking enrollment in 2024.
MIAD instructor selected to produce work for Farm/Art DTour
Matthew Vivirito, adjunct instructor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), is one of eight artists and artist teams selected to create site-responsive art for Wormfarm Institute’s annual Farm/Art DTour.
Lubar Innovation Center concepts for Harley-Davidson Museum
Two students from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) worked together to concept and develop fresh ideas for the Harley-Davidson Museum on a recent project through the Lubar Innovation Center.
MIAD alum named designated artist for ABCD gala event
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) alum and employee Cheryl Klein ’98 (Drawing) was selected as the designated artist for the After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) 25th anniversary gala on June 15, 2024.
Illustration and Animation faculty publishes book
Associate Professor Adam Osgood, who teaches Illustration and Animation courses at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), will publish Motion Illustration: How to Use Animation Techniques to Make Illustrations Move through Bloomsbury in August 2024.