sloguide

Glossary of Terms

Term	Definition
ACCJC	Accrediting Commission for Community and Key Junior Colleges A commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges that accredits associate degree-granting institutions. The Commission reviews and accredits colleges every five years.
Archive	The final step in creating and documenting an SLO in the SLOAC system. This step permanently enters the SLO into the ECMS system to be archived.
Assessments	Phase 2 in the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle Tools, such as tests and essays, which are used by instructors to achieve learning outcomes.
ECMS	Electronic Curriculum Management System De Anza’s main curriculum catalog housing information, including summary, credit value, and prerequisites, for all courses available to be offered at the college. Used throughout the college for course information, such as for scheduling and admissions and records.
Objectives	Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, what a successful learner is able to do upon successful completion of the course.
Outcomes	Phase 1 in the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle Faculty-determined course learning goals for students stating what students should gain upon the successful completion of a course.
Outlines	Inclusive course descriptions written by faculty/instructors that are stored in the ECMS. Course outlines include course title, number, department, credit, unit value, grading system, requisites, prerequisites, former names, repeatability, hours, cross listings, and description.
Reflections & Enhancements	Phase 3 in the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle A review by faculty of course assessments and consideration of future improvements to enhance a course’s ability to meet its stated learning outcomes.
SLO	Student Learning Outcomes Faculty-created outcomes that students should meet upon the successful completion of a course. One course may have multiple outcomes.
SLOAC	Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Cycle A cycle through which faculty create learning outcomes, plan assessment tools, and reflect on and enhance courses. Faculty are required to complete an SLOAC for each course they teach.
Team Leaders	A faculty member registered in the SLOAC who creates a course SLO. This is usually a faculty member who will teach a section of the course.
Team Members	Faculty members who have a stake in the creation of an SLO, i.e. instructors who teach different sections of the same course. Team members may define assessments and write reflections and enhancements. Team members may not create SLOs, only report on achieving them.