Agricultural Systems Technology (AST)
Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University

How Does Faculty Contribute to Our Assessment?

Faculty members are responsible for he curriculum and its associated learning experiences that allow a student to earn a degree. Therefore, our faculty assumes the responsibility to assess the success of their curriculum by examining the degree to which learner outcomes are achieved. The items below will allow you to see how ABE faculty members have constructed our curriculum, and how they measure and document its effectiveness.

A mature assessment program also requires that all faculty involved with the curriculum demonstrate knowledge of contemporary practices in outcomes assessment. You are invited to examine how we continue to develop our assessment skills and knowledge in order to keep our curriculum as effective as possible.

Here are the curriculum requirements for students to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Systems Technology.

We have measurable outcomes for each major learning goal of our curriculum. (e.g. How will one know that the major learning goals have been accomplished)?

We use direct and indirect measures of outcomes achievement, consistent with program goals.

Our teachers remain current and knowledgeable in the practice of outcomes assessment. Faculty use assessments to explore and improve teaching strategies. Faculty explain the practices and principles of outcomes assessment used in their department and by the college. Faculty communicate with others within and outside of ISU about assessment practices used and considered.

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Faculty Use of Assessments

Here are some examples of AST courses in which outcomes assessment is actively used and how the results affect their teaching strategies.

• ABE Learning Circle
• ABE Assessment Workshop
• AST 210 (Brumm)
• AST 324 (Mickelson)
• AST 337 (Steward)
• AST 362 (Brumm)
• AST 496 Schwab)

NOTE: these items will be linked to further descriptions.

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Faculty Explain Assessment

• Dr. Steve Mickelson and Dr. Tom Brumm discuss how outcomes assessment and competencies are used in the ABE Department and the Colleges of Engineering and Agriculture.

• Assessment discussions during the ABE Learning Circle. (to be added)

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Faculty Communicate about Assessment

Faculty communicate with others within and outside of ISU about assement in formal and informal ways:

• ABE Learning Circle
• ABE Assessment Workshop
• Presentations
• Publications

NOTE: these items will be linked to further descriptions.

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