Academic Assessment Workspace

The article guides users through Taskstream’s AMS system, covering workspace navigation, checking out requirements, editing mission statements, creating and mapping learning outcomes, and building curriculum maps. It details creating assessment plans, adding measures, entering findings, developing action plans linked to findings, and submitting status reports, emphasizing the Check In/Check Out system for collaborative editing.

Standing Requirements

  1. When you first open your workspace on your homepage, you will see the structure of the workspace on the left- hand side.

    A workspace page showing a Preview/Demo Area banner, a link for Program Assessment and Action Plan Workspace, a navigation panel listing General Information, Standing Requirements, and multiple assessment plans, and a content area showing explanations about standing requirements along with highlighted links and the selected Mission Statement item.

    A Mission Statement workspace page showing the work status, options to view the log, download as Word or PDF, print, share, and a Check Out button, along with expandable directions requesting a mission statement.

    On the upper right-hand corner, you will see a green “Check Out” button. Please note that all requirements in Taskstream’s AMS system use a Check In / Check Out system. To edit or add data to any requirement you will first need to “Check Out” the requirement. Once you have entered your information, you may click the Check In button so that others can come in to modify the requirement. If you forget to click the Check In button, the requirement will automatically be checked in when you log out of your account.

  2. When you click the “Check Out” button, the “Edit” button will appear on the far right. Click “Edit” to add your mission statement data.

    A Mission Statement workspace page showing options to view the log, download as Word or PDF, print, share, and a Check In button, along with the work status and checkout information and an Edit option.

    Note: If content has already been added to the area, you will be able to add to and/or modify it.

    A Mission Statement editing page showing fields to enter the mission statement text along with Cancel & Back and Submit buttons.

    Once you have entered the appropriate mission statement, you may click the “Submit” button.

    Return to Workspace by clicking Return to Work Area.

Learning Objective/Outcome

  1. When you are ready to move on to the Learning Objective/Outcomes (Program Learning Outcomes) requirement, you may select that requirement from the workspace structure.

    A workspace navigation panel showing Standing Requirements with the Outcomes item highlighted, alongside explanatory text about checking out the requirement and choosing or creating an outcome set.

    An Outcomes workspace page showing options to view the log, download as Word or PDF, print, share, and check in, along with buttons to create a new set or select an existing set and an empty section for outcome sets.

    You may then title the outcome set and choose whether you want to allow other sets to be aligned to this (your) outcome set (it is recommended to leave this checkbox blank). Then you may click “Continue.”

    A Create New Outcome Set page showing a field to enter the set name, a checkbox for selecting the alignment and mapping preference, and Cancel and Continue buttons.

  2. Once you return to the main Goals and Outcomes area, you can start to create Outcomes. To create an Outcome, click the “Create New Outcome” button.

    An outcome set page showing options to reorder the set, edit its name and properties, remove the set, and a button to create a new outcome, along with a Create New Outcome form showing fields for the outcome name and description, spelling and character count tools, and Cancel and Continue buttons.

    Enter a concise title for your Outcome (max 60 characters) and enter the outcome statement in the Description field. Click “Continue.”

  3. After clicking the Back to all outcome sets link, you may map or align your outcomes to college level or university level goals, accrediting body standards and criteria, and general education outcomes. To do this, click the Map link next to the outcome you wish to map.

    An outcome set page showing options to reorder the set, edit its name and properties, remove the set, and create a new outcome, with a table showing the outcome name, its description, a mapping status of No Mapping, and actions to map, edit, or delete the outcome.

    You can then click the “Create New Mapping” button.

    Creaye new Mapping button.

    To map or align your outcomes with a goal set, you’ll want to select Goal sets distributed to... or Outcome Sets in other organizational areas if you are mapping to department-level outcomes.

    A mapping page showing the outcome name and description, a dropdown menu to select the category of set to map to, a Go button, a Select Set field, and Cancel and Continue buttons.

    Select the appropriate set and click “Continue.” (Note: This is just an example)

    A mapping page showing a selected category of set, a list of available sets with radio buttons to choose one, links to view each set, and Cancel and Continue buttons.

    Choose which Outcome set items align with your objective and then click the “Continue” button. You will now see the Outcome set items mapped or aligned with your objective. NOTE: This is just an example of what the area would look like.

    An outcome selection page showing a list of outcomes under section 3A, each with a checkbox and descriptive text, and one outcome selected.

    You may repeat this process for additional mappings. Once mapped, your outcome(s) will look similar to the first one in the screenshot below.

    An outcome set page showing the outcome name and description with a mapping entry listing the selected accreditation standards and identifiers, along with options to map, edit, or delete the outcome.

Curriculum Map

  1. In the Curriculum Map requirement, you’re able to map courses to outcome sets. After Checking Out the area, click Create New Curriculum Map

    A Curriculum Map workspace page showing options to view the log, download as Word or PDF, print, share, and check in, along with a Work Not Started status message, no specified directions, and a button to create a new curriculum map.

    Enter a title for the map and select an outcome set to use.

    A Create Curriculum Map page showing fields to enter the map title and description, a dropdown to select the alignment set with a Go button, and an option to select the DEMO AREA Outcome Set.

    The map will open in a separate pop-up window. The outcomes will be along the top. To add a course/activity, click the Actions button and choose that option.

    An Actions menu showing options to manage the alignment set, create a new category, create a new course or activity, copy from another map, and links for print view and export to PDF.

    A Create a New Course or Activity form showing fields for the course or activity ID, title, an optional description with a spelling check option, an optional link field, and Cancel and Create buttons.

    A curriculum mapping grid showing courses and learning activities listed beside outcome columns, with a highlighted cell indicating the alignment between English 100 and Outcome 1.

    Using the legend along the bottom, you can then choose if a course Introduced, Practiced, or Reinforced work pertaining to that outcome.

Complete/Cyclical Cycle Requirements

  1. Now you may proceed to the cyclical assessment section represented by the category 2017-2018 Assessment Cycle to enter your assessment data.

Assessment Plan

An Assessment Plan navigation menu showing links for Assessment Plan, Assessment Findings, Action Plan, and Status Report under the Assessment Plan 2017‑2018 section.

To create an assessment plan that defines the measures used to assess your student learning outcomes, check out the Assessment Plan area and click the “Create New Assessment Plan” button.

Create New Assesment Plan button

NOTE: If you have an existing Assessment Plan in your workspace, you may wish to choose Copy Existing Plan as Starting Point instead.

Then, under the Measures Bar, click the “Select Set” button.

A measures section with select set button.

Click the “Select Existing Set” button to select your outcome set from the Outcomes/Learning Objectives library.

An outcome selection page showing buttons to create a new set, select an existing set, and accept and return to plan, with a message indicating that no outcome sets are attached.

Select the outcome set you wish to assess and click the “Continue” button.

An Import Outcome Set page showing an existing set named DEMO AREA Outcome Set with a radio button to select it, a link to view the set, and Cancel and Continue buttons.

Select the outcomes you wish to assess and then click the “Accept and Return to Plan” button.

An outcome selection page showing the DEMO AREA Outcome Set expanded with options to reorder the set, edit the name and properties, remove the set, and create a new outcome, along with outcome rows showing their descriptions, current mapping status, and links to map, edit, hide, or delete each outcome.

  1. To add a Measure to an outcome, click the appropriate “Add New Measure” button.

    A Measures section showing the DEMO AREA Outcome Set expanded with each outcome listed and an Add New Measure button shown for each outcome where no measures are specified.

    You may then add the details of your measure into the measure data entry screen.

    A measure creation form showing fields for the measure title, measure type or method, measure level, details and description, acceptable target, and ideal target.

    Once you’ve filled out the template, click Apply Changes at the bottom. You can add as many measures as you want to each outcome.

    An Assessment Plan navigation menu showing the Assessment Findings link selected under the Assessment Plan 2017‑2018 section.

    To do so, check out the requirement, locate the appropriate Measure, and then click the “Add Findings” button.

    An Assessment Findings section showing Outcome 1 with a measure expanded to display details, targets, implementation plan, and responsible personnel, along with a Findings area showing an Add Findings button and a message indicating no findings added.

    You may then enter the details of your assessment findings into the data entry screen.

    A findings entry form showing fields for the summary of findings, recommendations, reflections or notes, and acceptable target achievement.

    Once you have entered your data, click the “Submit” button. Repeat these steps for each measure once you have completed conducting those assessments.

    Create New Operational Plan button.

    Then you may click the “Create New Operational Plan” button.

    NOTE: If you have an existing Plan in your workspace, you may wish to choose Copy Existing Plan as Starting Point instead.

    Next, click the “Select Set” button under the Actions bar.

    A Actions section with select set button.

    Click the “Select Existing Set” button.

    An outcome selection page showing buttons to select an existing set and accept and return to plan, with a message indicating that no outcome sets are attached.

    Select the Outcome set you wish to assess that cycle and click the “Continue” button.

    An Import Outcome Set page showing an existing set named DEMO AREA Outcome Set with a radio button to select it, a link to view the set, and Cancel and Continue buttons.

    Select the Outcomes you wish to add actions to and then click the “Accept and Return to Plan” button.

    An outcome set section showing the DEMO AREA Outcome Set expanded with checkboxes beside each outcome, a mapping column showing mapped standards for Outcome 1 and 'No Mapping' for the remaining outcomes, along with options to hide each outcome and a Remove Set button.

    You may now add an Action to each applicable Outcome by clicking the “Add New Action” button.

    An Action Plan section showing the DEMO AREA Outcome Set with each outcome listed and an Add New Action button shown for outcomes where no actions are specified.

    Here, all of the Findings with respect to that outcome will appear here. Check Findings for Measure of the outcome you selected by checking the checkbox and clicking “Continue.” This indicates that the action item is the result of those Findings.

    A findings summary page showing the initiative outcome with a collapsed section for Findings for Measure Example Measure and a summary of findings, along with Cancel and Continue buttons.

    You may now populate the Action detail fields with your data. You can check the box for Show Full Results Details to reference the results. Click Apply Changes once you’ve populated the Action Item.

    An action entry form showing linked findings for the measure, fields for the action item title, action details, implementation plan timeline, and key or responsible personnel, along with buttons for Cancel, Check Spelling, Import Action, and Apply Changes.

    You may repeat this process for each additional action you need to add. You can add as many action items as you want to an outcome.

    An Assessment Plan navigation panel showing the Status Report link selected under the Assessment Plan 2017‑2018 section.

    Check out the requirement and then click the “Add Status” button. NOTE: this is an example of what it could look like.

    An Action Plan status section showing Outcome 1 with an action expanded to display action details, implementation plan, responsible personnel, measures, budget information, and priority, along with a Status area showing an Add Status button and a message indicating no status added.

    You may then complete the Status Report for that particular action and click “Submit.”

    A status entry form showing dropdowns for current status and budget status, text boxes for additional information and next steps, and buttons for Cancel, Check Spelling, and Submit.

    Repeat these steps for each subsequent action item.

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