Self Assessments

“Self assessment is the ability of a student to observe, analyze, and judge one’s performance on the basis of criteria and determine how one can improve it.” Self-assessment consists of four distinct components (1) observing, (2) interpreting or analyzing, (3) judging, and (4) planning. The ability to self assess is critical to the learning process. As a student it is critical for you to learn to recognize when you are learning the material at a level that will allow you to reach your goals and when you are not. It is most critical that you recognize when you are falling short and need to make a change and when you are on course and need to continue what you are already doing well. If you rely solely on the instructor’s assessment, you may not realize that your strategies are not working until after you have already done poorly on an exam. (Alverno College Faculty, 1994)

Initial Self Assessment Survey:

Thoughtfully respond to both parts A and B below. You must use complete sentences and correct spelling and grammar. Your response should be in your notebook by the end of the first week of the quarter. You will be asked do a similar self-assessment of your progress in the middle of the quarter and at the end of the quarter.

Part A:

1. What have you done to prepare yourself to be successful in this class?

2. What are your most effective study strategies (or study habits)?

3. What are your least effective study strategies (or study habits)?

4. How much time (daily) have you set aside to study for this class?

5. What are your responsibilities regarding your success in this class?

Part B:

1. Goal: (What are my realistic expectations regarding my learning & performance in this class?)

2. Steps to completion: (How will I accomplish this goal?)

3. Measure of completion: (How will I know when I’ve reached my goal?)

4. Barriers to completion: (How am I likely to get “off track”?)

5. Resources to support my goal: (Who and/or what resources are available to assist me?)

Mid-term Self Assessment Survey:

Thoughtfully respond to both parts A and B below. Your response should be in your notebook by the end of the fifth week of the quarter. You will be asked do another self-assessment of your learning at the end of the quarter.

Part A:

1. What have you done so far in the quarter to contribute to your success in this class?

2. What changes do you need to make to improve your learning in this class?

Part B:

Reread your Initial Student Self Assessment.

1. Goal: (Has your goal changed? Do you need to modify your goal?)

Final Self Assessment Survey:

Thoughtfully respond to the questions below. Your response should be in your notebook by the end of the last week of the quarter.

Reread your Initial and Mid-term Student Self Assessments.

1. Goal: (Did you achieve your goal? Did you change your goal? Explain.)

2. Steps to completion: (What successful learning/study strategies did you use this quarter? Did you make any changes to your study/learning strategies this quarter? Please be specific.)

3. Measure of completion: (How did you know that you achieved your goal or not?)

4. Barriers to completion: (What happened that got you off track? Identify issues that were in your control or not. Did you need to change your goal to reflect issues out of your control? Did you need to change your behavior in order to stay on track?)

5. Resources to support my goal: (Who &/or what resources did you use?)

6. Planning for the future: Use the information above to plan for future success. What effective strategies need to be maintained? Do you need to change your expectations or goals? Do you need to change you learning/study strategies? What will you do next quarter?

(Modified from a document at the University of Texas at Austin, Center for Teaching Effectiveness)