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Scholarship
July 3, 2025
Demystifying Outcomes Assessment for International Educators: A Practical Approach
- Author
- Deardorff, Darla K.
- Publisher
- Stylus, Sterling, VA
- ISBN
- 9781620361283
- Table of Contents
-
Foreword (Trudy Banta)
Foreword (Hans de Wit)
Acknowledgements
Introduction
ch. 1 Framing International Education Assessment
ch. 2 Thirty Frequently Asked Questions on Assessment in International Practice
ch. 3 The Unique Assessment Context of International Education
ch. 4 Principles for Effective Assessment in International Education
ch. 5 Approaching International Education Assessment Holistically: The Logic Model
ch. 6 Getting Started
ch. 7 Developing an Assessment Strategy: The Assessment Process
ch. 8 Pitfalls to Avoid, Strategies, and Lessons Learned
ch. 9 The Leadership Role in International Education Assessment
ch. 10 The Future of International Education Assessment
Appendices
Appendix A: Handouts and Worksheets
Appendix B: Assessing Intercultural Competence as a Learning Outcome of International Education
Appendix C: Some Thoughts on Assessing Intercultural Competence
Appendix D: Checklist for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Outcomes Assessment in International Education
Appendix E: Some Assessment Tools for International Education Contexts
Appendix F: International Education Learning Outcomes Examples
Appendix G: Selected Assessment Resources for International Educators
References
Index
Click Here for Book Review
For many in international education, assessment can seem daunting and overwhelming, especially given that such efforts need to involve much more than a pre/post survey. This book is a practical guide to learning-outcomes assessment in international education for practitioners who are starting to engage with the process, as well as for those who want to improve the quality and effectiveness of their assessment efforts.
Assuming no prior knowledge, the book offers an accessible and clear road map to the application of assessment. Recognizing that a “one size fits all” approach cannot capture the diversity of goals and settings of international education, or the rich variety of programs and organizations involved in delivering it, author Darla Deardorff provides the reader with foundational principles and knowledge to develop appropriate assessment approaches for evaluating and improving student learning outcomes, which are the drivers of higher education internationalization.
She provides the background for assessment, highlights how the characteristics of international education pose unique challenges for assessment, considers the contexts to which assessment may be applied – whether in cross-border or “at home” institutional experiences, such as in curricular, co-curricular or extracurricular settings – and distills a seemingly convoluted process into a manageable approach. From the basics of getting started in assessment to highlighting pitfalls to avoid, this book offers a holistic and practical approach to assessment that moves beyond seeing assessment as a discrete activity to on-going process that is integrated into student learning. There is also a unique chapter for education leaders on assessment essentials from a leadership-perspective.
The appendices include worksheets for implementing assessment, creating an assessment team, and getting buy-in from stakeholders. Other appendices include a list of standards adapted to international education outcomes assessment, guidance on assessing intercultural competence, and resources.
This book reflects the author’s experience of over a decade of work with international education programs and higher education institutions around the world, and synthesizes what she has learned into an easy-to-use resource for anyone who wants to understand and utilize effective assessment in the field of international education. (From the Publisher)
For many in international education, assessment can seem daunting and overwhelming, especially given that such efforts need to involve much more than a pre/post survey. This book is a practical guide to learning-outcomes assessment in international education for practitioners who are starting to engage with the process, as well as for those who want to improve the quality and effectiveness of their assessment efforts.
Assuming no prior knowledge, the book offers an accessible and clear road map to the application of assessment. Recognizing that a “one size fits all” approach cannot capture the diversity of goals and settings of international education, or the rich variety of programs and organizations involved in delivering it, author Darla Deardorff provides the reader with foundational principles and knowledge to develop appropriate assessment approaches for evaluating and improving student learning outcomes, which are the drivers of higher education internationalization.
She provides the background for assessment, highlights how the characteristics of international education pose unique challenges for assessment, considers the contexts to which assessment may be applied – whether in cross-border or “at home” institutional experiences, such as in curricular, co-curricular or extracurricular settings – and distills a seemingly convoluted process into a manageable approach. From the basics of getting started in assessment to highlighting pitfalls to avoid, this book offers a holistic and practical approach to assessment that moves beyond seeing assessment as a discrete activity to on-going process that is integrated into student learning. There is also a unique chapter for education leaders on assessment essentials from a leadership-perspective.
The appendices include worksheets for implementing assessment, creating an assessment team, and getting buy-in from stakeholders. Other appendices include a list of standards adapted to international education outcomes assessment, guidance on assessing intercultural competence, and resources.
This book reflects the author’s experience of over a decade of work with international education programs and higher education institutions around the world, and synthesizes what she has learned into an easy-to-use resource for anyone who wants to understand and utilize effective assessment in the field of international education. (From the Publisher)