‘Learning,’ by the numbers

For the UND LEADS Implementation Committee, measuring UND’s progress on implementing the ‘Learning’ core value is a continuing challenge

By Ryan Zerr 

How do you measure learning?

Of course, this is an incredibly complex question whose answer may involve topics such as grades, learning outcomes, rubrics … the stuff of educational assessment. But as it applies to the UND LEADS Core Value of “Learning,” this question is central to gauging how well UND is doing with implementing its strategic plan.

The approach emerging for UND LEADS involves two aspects:

• In what ways are our institutional activities aligned with the nine “Learning” strategic priorities? And,

• Which features of the “Learning” strategic priorities lend themselves to measurements that we already collect or might reasonably be able to start collecting soon?

As for activities, about half of the initial year’s LEADS Activity Inventory items are connected to one of the “Learning” strategic priorities. That a significant proportion of our activities are connected in this way is hardly a surprise. But digging one level deeper, these activities’ connections to the LEADS strategic priorities reveal more nuance about how this aspect of the Strategic Plan is coming to life.

For instance, as of July 1, one of the “Learning” strategic priorities with the fewest inventory “hits” is “Foster a global perspective to prepare students for engagement and leadership, by promoting experiences that expand horizons even as they build skills.” This could mean those working on projects or initiatives in this area have not yet included them in the inventory. Or it could mean we might want to bring more attention to these types of activities.

Regardless, the Implementation Team is hoping to highlight this strategic priority to ensure it gets the attention it deserves.

In contrast, the “Learning” strategic priority focused on promoting digital technologies is the one – so far – most commonly associated with the current list of Activity Inventory items. Many of these items are in an early “Envisioning” stage, creating the promise of exciting developments just on the horizon as work that’s getting started continues to mature.

Also of interest is the way Activity Inventory items are distributed according to the type of unit from which they originate. For instance, an initiative or program might be something that an academic department develops and initiates. This would include a new degree program with a goal to help “foster a global perspective,” in other words.

Or, it could be an initiative such as the Experiential Learning Center, which directly aligns with the “Learning” strategic priority to “Cultivate experiential learning opportunities,” but was created at an institutional level.

Currently, the significant majority of items aligned with the “Learning” core value have originated at the “College/Office” level. A reasonable goal for the second year of LEADS implementation is for a greater proportion of LEARNING inventory activities to originate at the department level.

These are just a few initial impressions arising from the LEADS Implementation Team’s work to measure our progress and the impact of our collective efforts as a campus. As our work continues, additional insights should emerge that can help everyone on campus better understand our journey to achieve the vision of UND LEADS, “to inspire a sense of wonder, a love of discovery, and a commitment to serve.”

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>> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS about the UND LEADS Strategic Plan? Your thoughts are welcome! Please contact Mike Wozniak, coordinator of Leadership & Programming, and/or Ryan Zerr, associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation, the co-chairs of the UND LEADS Implementation Committee.

You also may offer your thoughts by visiting the UND LEADS Strategic Plan home page and clicking on the “Provide your feedback” link that you’ll find there.

Thank you for your support of the UND LEADS Strategic Plan!

About the author:

Ryan Zerr is associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation, professor of Mathematics and co-chair of the UND LEADS Implementation Committee.