Assessment For Excellence: The Philosophy and Practice of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education

by Alexander W. Astin

In this detailed study, Astin examines why assessment activity has produced such meager results and, just as important, how existing activities can be improved. The author also discusses what new assessment practices can be implemented and shares specific and sometimes startling ideas
—How assessment information can most effectively be used for evaluation;
—How results can be used to enlighten and inform the practitioner;
—How practical, technical, and political problems can be overcome when building an assessment database from student and faculty input;
—How the movement of externally mandated assessments in various states is having a negative impact on higher education.

Genres: Education

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Beau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A convincing argument for the use of the Input-Environment-Outcome model of assessment, and applicability outside of higher education.

[Stan Skrabut · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the fall 2016 term, I taught a graduate level course for the University of Wyoming on program planning and evaluation. I used the book list that had already been prepared for the course, the books included  Developing Programs in Adult Education: A Conceptual Programming Model ,  Program Planning and Evaluation for the Public Manager , and Assessment for Excellence: The Philosophy and Practice of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education*.  I have previously reviewed the first two books and now will provide my thought on  Assessment for Excellence . The first time I read Assessment for Excellence was for this class. I was quite pleased with the book and the learners in the class also found the book to be quite informative and beneficial. Read more

[Marlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Astin's work on the Input- Environment - Outcome model of assessment in higher education. Great book on learning about the model, background of the work, and application to higher education. We used this book as a text in a Special Topics course on Quantitative Methods in graduate school.

[Mills College Library]

378.166 A854 2012