Utilizing Assessment for Maximum Student Success: A review of MAP-Works
Session Location
Eberhard Center 617 B
Session Start Date and Time
24-8-2011 11:30 AM
Session End Date and Time
24-8-2011 12:00 PM
Session Abstract
In 2009, Grand Valley first utilized the student success tool, MAP-Works (Making Achievement Possible). Research indicates that the first 3 weeks is “make or break time” in determining if students will be retained at the institution. Instead of guessing what support and engagement students need, MAP-Works provides an in- depth look at the student experience and provides a collaborative tool to help faculty and staff target the individual needs of each student. This presentation will review MAP-Works, aggregate data collected, and will engage participants in conversation about best practice in better understanding our students.
Session Description
In 2009, Grand Valley State University first utilized the student success tool, MAP-Works (Making Achievement Possible). MAP-Works is a survey that students fill out in the first 3-6 weeks of their first semester at GV. Students rate their ability, engagement and interest in a number of areas including Academic, Soci-Emotional, Behaviors and Activities, Performance and Expectations, and Financial Means. When Dr. Vincent Tinto visited campus in 2009, he presented research that indicated the first 3 weeks of the semester to be a “make or break time” in determining if students would be retained at the institution. Instead of guessing what support and engagement students need, MAP-Works provides an in-depth look at the student experience and provides a collaborative tool to help faculty and staff target the individual needs of each student. The aggregate data that has been collected by utilizing MAP-Works has proven to be extremely valuable in helping students as well as retaining them at Grand Valley. This aggregate data has also provided a changed prospective on the student experience. For example, in 2010, only 80% of our students considered themselves very homesick. About 70% said that they aren’t likely to meet with a professor outside of class. 96% attend class regularly, but only 78% report that they think they take good notes in class. There are 123 total questions in MAP-Works so this is a very small sample of the questions but for each item there is a potential to work with students to improve their skills or get them connected in ways that will help them to be successful in a reasonable time to graduation. The foundational learning skills such as note taking, time management, learning how to talk with faculty, working with study groups, and understanding learning styles, are often times overlooked but MAP-Works helps students pin-point areas that they need to work on and we provide the programming that develops these skills.
Utilizing Assessment for Maximum Student Success: A review of MAP-Works
Eberhard Center 617 B
In 2009, Grand Valley first utilized the student success tool, MAP-Works (Making Achievement Possible). Research indicates that the first 3 weeks is “make or break time” in determining if students will be retained at the institution. Instead of guessing what support and engagement students need, MAP-Works provides an in- depth look at the student experience and provides a collaborative tool to help faculty and staff target the individual needs of each student. This presentation will review MAP-Works, aggregate data collected, and will engage participants in conversation about best practice in better understanding our students.