| An assessment plan is a planned set of activities (as illustrated in Figure 1) to help educators review and reflect on the student learning in their educational programs/courses. The ultimate purpose of an assessment plan is to improve student learning by using assessment information to make decisions about educational design. Accordingly, it is helpful to understand the factors that contribute to student learning. These factors and their interactions are presented in Figure 2, the assessment framework developed by Gainen and Locatelli (1995, p. 4). The framework demonstrates that intended learning outcomes (i.e., educational objectives) interact with both student characteristics and the educational environment in producing student learning outcomes and client satisfaction. The relationships in Figure 2 can help educators understand why assessment plans consider not only how to measure learning outcomes, but also how to establish goals/objectives and design and implement the educational environment. For example, a failure to achieve intended learning outcomes could be attributed to unreasonable expectations, a lack of student prerequisite competencies, poor design or execution of educational activities, or some combination of these factors. A well-designed assessment plan can help educators make better decisions about their educational practices by helping them evaluate both the individual and joint effects of various factors in creating student outcomes. The focus of an assessment plan may be a college/university, an educational program, or a specific course. Accounting educators who might design or implement an assessment plan include department chairs, assessment committee members, or individual faculty members. References to specific sources of information about establishing assessment plans:
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