Measuring Cocurricular Learning: The Role of the IR Office

Book excerpt: This volume examines the complexities of measuring co-curricular learning and discusses the role of the institutional research professional in measuring learning outside of the classroom. This volume explores: Contemporary theories around co-curricular learning and its influence on student success; The role of accountability and accreditation when considering the methods to measure co-curricular learning; How co-curricular data align with university goals and priorities; The differences between direct and indirect measures of cocurricular learning; and The roles the institutional research office can play as a leader and collaborator in the measurement of co-curricular learning. This is the 164th volume of this Jossey-Bass quarterly report series. Timely and comprehensive, New Directions for Institutional Research provides planners and administrators in all types of academic institutions with guidelines in such areas as resource coordination, information analysis, program evaluation, and institutional management.