Evaluating Success in Experiential Learning: CapSource’s Metrics and Methodologies
The CapSource leadership team was recently invited to present and exhibit at the Capstone Design Conference, which was held in June a the UT Knoxville. One particularly inspiring section, featuring Facilitator: John Estell (Ohio Northern) and Panelists: Meg Harkins (UNC Charlotte), Jim Hartman (UNC Charlotte), Tiffany Ling (University of St. Thomas) touched on capstone project evaluation where we explored innovative methods to assess the success of students and teams in industry-integrated projects.
At CapSource, we know how difficult yet important student coaching and evaluation can be when facilitating these types of industry-integrated learning experiences. That’s why we developed CapSource 360, designed to facilitate a comprehensive feedback loop between students, faculty, and industry partners to ensure continuous improvement and accurate assessment of project outcomes.
Key Evaluation Components:
Generate Regular Feedback Loops: CapSource enables a robust feedback system where students receive evaluations from their peers, faculty, and industry partners. This multi-source feedback informs interventions and can highlight instances of poor performance.
1. Inform Intervention: Using analytics, CapSource monitors project progress to identify when projects are on track or encountering issues. This allows for timely interventions, ensuring students receive the support they need to succeed. Analytics provide insights into engagement levels, deliverable quality, and overall project health, enabling proactive measures to address any challenges.
2. Measure Quality and Effectiveness: While we don’t assign letter grades, we collect detailed feedback on the quality and effectiveness of deliverables from program and project managers. This helps determine if students meet professional standards and succeed in their project pursuits.
3. Collect Progress Reports: Utilizing structured rubrics, we normalize grading procedures and expectations. Project manager and peer evaluations are anchored to team performance, with individual adjustments made for significant contribution discrepancies.
4. Ensure Professional Behavior and Equal Contribution: Students demonstrating a substantial lack of contribution are placed on individual grading tracks. This ensures fair assessment and accountability within team projects.
5. Track Priorities & Time Spent: CapSource is introducing Time & Task Tracking Feature to enable facilitators to better track student priorities. By also tracking time spent on those activities, you can capture a comprehensive picture of each student’s contributions and development.
6. Collect Reflections: At the conclusion of each project, CapSource facilitates reflective assessments where students, faculty, and industry partners review the project outcomes. These reflections help evaluate overall student performance from an industry perspective and identify key learnings and areas for improvement. This process not only solidifies the learning experience but also provides valuable insights for future projects.
CapSource’s methodology not only evaluates student success but also enhances the overall quality of experiential learning programs by ensuring projects are impactful and meet industry standards. To learn more about our approach and how we can support your educational programs, visit CapSource for Educators.
By leveraging these methodologies, CapSource helps educators create dynamic, engaging learning environments that prepare students for the complexities of the modern workforce. Interested in exploring the platform for yourself?
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