Facilitating & Assessing High-Impact Learning

Program-Level Outcomes Assessment and Integrative Learning Portfolios (ILPs)

In May 2011 I was recruited by the Center for Teaching Excellence at TAMU to assist with the final phase of a curriculum re-design for the Department of Ecosystem Science Management (ESSM). My primary job involved integrating their program learning outcomes into an electronic portfolio format that serves as a capstone project for students and a program assessment tool for ESSM. This project involved the following responsibilities:

• Learn and demonstrate how the portfolio tool can be used to document program learning outcomes in both the student capstone and program assessment levels

• Identify which PLO assessment deliverables are best suited for portfolio publication

• Help the department conceptualize a design for demonstrating how program outcomes are met in each degree plan, culminating in a future departmental web page

• Write and assemble instructor and student resources for integrating PLOs within the portfolio

• Meet regularly with program directors from CTE and ESSM

• Maintain regular contact with ESSM and CTE support staff

• Test, evaluate, and recommend an online portfolio tool

• Provide departmental support through workshops, instructional resources and training

Because of the success of developing an integrative learning e-folio (ILEP) for student learning and program assessment, I have been invited to share my work with other departments at the university who are interested in learning more about using portfolios to facilitate program outcomes. In December of 2012, I was invited to serve as a consultant at the annual retreat for faculty in the Masters of Land and Property Development within the Department of Architecture. In this role, I advised the department on developing and implementing integrative learning e-folios to capture program learning outcomes. I created materials targeted for MLPD assessment purposes, including the use of an ILEPs in the master's degree defense. In 2013, I served on a panel of faculty from this department and CTE to present at the annual TAMU Assessment Conference. In 2011 I was asked to share my research on integrative learning portfolios with faculty at the Mays School of Business. In the spring of 2013 I presented my work and research on ILEPs as an invited speaker at the Wakonse South Conference sponsored by CTE. See "If You Build It, Will They Come: Demystifying Reflection to Target Instructional Outcomes and Empower Learning."

Experiential Learning Curriculum Development and Resources

In May and June 2010 I had the opportunity to partner with a consulting firm, Leadership Development International (LDi), in their effort to develop experiential learning curricula for one of their international clients: the Higher Colleges of Technology--Fujairah College in the United Arab Emirates. This partnership resulted in several projects designed to reach the HCT-FC mission: to develop dynamic citizens through the education and training of students via experiential leadership curricula. My research culminated in a mixed-reality project and presentation "Using Second Life--HCT Presentation," which I researched and co-delivered with Rochell M (Rachelle Munro in SL), a virtual world consultant and instructor at UT Tyler. Our project's lead consultant for LDi, Dr. Tom R (DrTomRLionheart in SL), set up the meeting and managed the technical aspects of our presentation in the UAE so that our clients there could view the presentation and interact with Rochell and me. Please see International Instructional Consulting to learn more about what this project required.