Like any program that focuses on the assessment of a program and its students, the overarching goal of this proposal is to provide information to an audience that not only has benefited the school, but also the student. In addition, with the model used in our School of Management, we also impact society: those we reach, and those who reach out to us. In addition, creating a sense of belonging for our students is at the forefront of what we do, and that is assisted by providing projects as well as academics that measure what a person contributes to the finished product. That being an academic program that transcends the walls of the school and reaches society as a whole.
Assessment in higher education has been embedded in courses and programs for decades. Its importance can be seen in the tracking of student degree completion, the creation and revision of student learning outcomes and courses, and the overall success of an academic program. At the program level, assessment has come to imply aggregating individual measures for the purpose of discovering group strengths and weaknesses that can guide improvement actions.
The utilization of AI as a form of assessment enhancer began in earnest with this past internal program cycle: Fall 24 through Spring 25. One of the school-wide initiatives undertaken in partnership with our Strategic Plan was to incorporate AI in a classroom setting for the benefit of learning outcomes. As such, multiple programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels were able to add AI to existing course learning outcomes, as well as enhance program-level outcomes with Microsoft Co-Pilot.
In addition, Co-Pilot was also used to guide programs such as Accounting and Finance into new indirect measures, such as establishing a better relationship with community groups in need of financial literacy awareness and those with deep-rooted green and sustainable initiatives. When programs (such as ACCT 3350 Fundamentals of Taxation) already have indirect measures related to community partners, it only makes sense to enhance those efforts with AI in the form of similar suggestions. That allows the programs to grow in what they can do and who they reach, and the public benefits from the assistance of trained staff who meet their specific needs.
While Finance and Accounting are only two examples, next year, more programming- based classes (such as Business Analytics) will be working with indirect measures and AI to better focus their assessment work with community stakeholders. This will allow both graduate and undergraduate programs to better educate their students, but also foster a stronger partnership with the communities in which we serve.
Background:-
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most talked-about phrases in higher education. In this session, we will explain why the need for indirect measures is more important now than ever. The impact of using this approach inside the classroom, as well as your college in general, can be felt for years to come and can help shape policy decisions that impact all educational stakeholders. In addition, we will also examine how AI and indirect measures can be used to assist student organizations in gaining a better understanding of the needs of the communities in which they live, work, and serve. The session will conclude by sharing ideas on how to create and use data visualizations to document and tell the assessment story.
Areas Covered:-
Learning Objectives:-
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
Why Should You Attend?
Combining AI and indirect measures is relatively new, but it can impact assessment for years to come. From the classroom to outside organizations, the connection can be seen. In this session, the audience will understand why the need for indirect measures is more important now than ever.
Participants who attend this session will be able to:
We, as leaders in higher education, are more than administrators and faculty. We are stewards in education, and as such, have a responsibility to understand the quality of the tools we use. As leaders, what we can learn by using AI in assessment, and how it benefits students, is an important question we need to address.
Who Will Benefit?
Deans, Associate Deans, Assistant Deans, Directors, Coordinators of Accreditation and Assessment. Also, Program Directors in charge of reporting said data.
Kent Seaver has 23 years of experience in the field of student assessment, prior learning, and academic success. He is presently the Director of Academic Operations at the University of Texas at Dallas for the Jindal School of Management. Kent has researched the impact mentoring has on the landscape of higher education, as well as work force placement impacts and advising successes related to their educational requirements. Kent has written articles dealing with prior learning, student success, and retention for the American Technical Education Association, AACRAO, NACADA and Military Advanced Education.