An assessment is a collection of multi-dimensional data that provides feedback. Assessments are used to identify what students know and are able to do.

• Assessments are used to monitor learning and provide feedback that drives improvement and maintains accountability.

• Feedback can be for students and/or instructors, depending on the type and purpose of the specific assessment.

Evaluations are judgments about quality based on a defined set of values. Evaluations are typically used as a measure of effectiveness to determine success.

• Evaluations are used to assign grades, analyze success, and make decisions. Evaluations tend to have a more negative connotation due to their direct link to grades and measuring success.

• Evaluations can also inform a larger audience about success when used to analyze a course or program or when students report their grades for graduate school admissions or job applications.

Ideally, we should develop tasks for a course that allow assessment and evaluation to work together. Moving forward, we are going to use the term “assessments” exclusively, but this should include aspects of evaluation as well.