Heiland and Rosenthal agree a gap needs to be closed between general education skills and disciplinary skills but suggest we need to look for student learning in different places. I think experiential learning is one approach to creating learning opportunities that get both the student and the faculty engaged in assessment and the process of learning. Experiential learning within the disciplines could involve creating reflective writing assignments within the discipline that requires the student to examine their achievement within the discipline as well as the intersection of other general skills used in the learning activity. The authors suggest that faculty need to engage the general education skills within their own discipline through outcomes assessment efforts. I have observed faculty who have never received any training in this area or ever discussed it. Measuring the level of learning achieved by students using standardized tests seems very limiting and this is an area ripe for additional research. I think another approach to consider is how we get students and faculty to collaboratively measure the learning that they both know is occurring. It is interesting to note that as I reflect on the past year in this program I am experience the learning process but we rarely discuss it with each other or the faculty.

A culture of assessment and focus on content and activities that promote all facets of a strong general education foundation depends on faculty involvement. We have instituted mandatory training to teach faculty about assessment strategies and how to write quality, measurable learning objectives. I also think that evaluation of faculty on assessment skills could be added to faculty evaluation. Students need feedback and instruction versus just checking the box of completing an assignment. I hear from a number of students attending community college that they receive poor grades on written assignments but have no idea how to close the gaps in their skills. This is another data point that experts in the field are not always trained to be good educators or teachers. I would also advocate for faculty to receive training regularly on how to teach. A great book to help with this is Classroom Assessment Techniques https://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Assessment-Techniques-Handbook-Teachers/dp/1555425003 and there are many resources available but very little discussion of how assessment occurs.