Tracking discipline mastery

The development of an online program assessment and evaluation tool

Abstract

An online formative program assessment and evaluation tool was created by discipline leaders covering five discipline-specific domains as well as transferrable skills and personal dispositions. Students in first year complete this program assessment, often failing, but the experience is used to motivate them to start their learning journey - that's why they've come to University. Second year students participating in the same program assessment can see their annual progress. Third year students participating in program assessment can confirm how far they have progressed towards discipline mastery, as defined by their discipline leaders. The tool can also evaluate the overall effectiveness of the multiple course-based teaching and learning environments that make up the students' program and provide evidence to support external accreditation requirements. An initial trial of the tool in environmental science and geospatial science has been conducted.