Each institution in the CALL consortium has convened four different four-person campus teams, one for each of the four learning outcomes. All the campus teams for a given outcome will work together as a single inter-institutional team during a spring conference co-hosted by Carleton and St. Olaf April 7-8. The conference will also provide an opportunity for collaboration among all the teams from each individual campus. The specific objectives for the CALL conference are as follows:

• To develop a working draft of a common definition of four learning outcomes: critical thinking, effective writing, quantitative reasoning, and global understanding

• To improve participants’ understanding of two or more assessment approaches for each outcome, including design, strengths, weaknesses, and potential uses

• To lay the groundwork for potential partnerships, in which two or more institutions will use the same or similar strategies on their respective campuses during the remainder of the Teagle grant funding period

In anticipation of this work, we are asking each campus team to prepare two documents (see attached):

• A campus-specific “student learning inventory” focused on the learning outcome for which the team is responsible. Each campus team’s inventory is to be submitted to the convener of its inter-institutional team no later than Friday, March 31. The convener will distribute each campus team’s inventory to the members of the larger inter-institutional team for review prior to the conference.

• An “assessment case study,” describing, evaluating, and seeking feedback on an assessment strategy the team’s campus is using (or considering for use) to gather evidence of student learning with respect to the team’s outcome. Each team will bring copies of the case study to the April 7-8 conference for discussion during the inter-institutional team meetings.

Agenda

Friday, April 7
Site: Carleton College Great Hall, Severance Hall

5:00 pm Registration and reception

6:00 pm Welcome: Elizabeth Ciner, Associate Dean, Carleton College

6:10 pm Plenary Introduction: Brad Bateman, Associate Dean, Grinnell College

Speaker: Mary Huba, Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Iowa State University

7:00 pm Dinner

Saturday, April 8
Site: St. Olaf College Holland Hall and Science Center

8:15 – 8:45 am “Healthy Start” coffee/tea/juice, fruit, assorted breakfast breads, granola and yogurt - Holland Hall 501

8:45 – 10:30 am Inter-Institutional Team Meeting #1: Distinctive Paths, Shared Understandings Conference Goals – Jo Beld, Professor of Political Science, St. Olaf College

Assignment: Using each campus team’s responses to Assignment #1 (“Student Learning Inventory”):

• Develop an inter-institutional definition of the learning outcome (to be reviewed by campus delegations later in the day and relevant constituencies upon return to campus)

• Identify commonalities and differences in campus assessment approaches

• Critical Thinking Team: Holland 514
• Effective Writing Team: Holland 515
• Quantitative Reasoning Team: Holland 516
• Global Understanding Team: Holland 307

10:30 – 10:45 am “Healthy Break” coffee/tea/juice, fruit, assorted breakfast breads, granola and yogurt - Holland Hall 501

10:45 – 12:15 pm Inter-Institutional Team Meeting #2: Assessment Clinic - same room assignments as Meeting #1

Assignment: Using each campus teams’ response to Assignment #2 (“Assessment Clinic Case Study”):

• Present information on a specific assessment approach in use on each campus

• In light of these presentations, consider as a group prospects for two or more institutions to implement the same or similar assessment strategy during the Teagle funding period

12:15 – 1:15 pm Boxed Lunches - Science Center Atrium

1:15 – 2:15 pm Campus Delegation Meetings

Assignment: The four learning outcome teams for each campus will meet with each other to:

• Consider inter-institutional team recommendations emerging from the Assessment Clinics

• Ask what initiatives and potential partnerships hold promise for improving teaching and learning on your campus

• St. Olaf College: Holland 514
• Carleton College: Holland 515
• Macalester College: Holland 516
• Grinnell College: Holland 307

2:15 – 2:30 pm Break - Holland Hall 501

2:30 – 3:30 pm Inter-Institutional Team Meeting #3: Setting the Agenda - same room assignments as Meeting #1

Assignment: Prepare a recommended assessment agenda for the consortium for the remainder of the Teagle funding period. Which institutions will pursue which assessment strategies for the next two years in order to accomplish the commitment we outlined in our grant proposal (for the consortium as a whole to implement at least two assessment strategies for each learning outcome)?

Steering Committee members will meet to consolidate recommendations – location TBA

3:30 – 4:15 Plenary Session: Next Steps - Holland Hall 501

• Teams summarize their recommendations and tentative plans

• Steering Committee identifies follow-up work required of Steering Committee members, conveners, and campus teams to implement these plans

• Conference participants complete conference evaluation