美国高等教育评估的演变及其新发展

The Evolvement and New Trend of American Higher Education Assessment

美国高等教育评估是在实践和学术研究两个相互独立的环境中各自萌芽的,随着学术研究和实践需要之间日益频繁的深度互动而逐步流行。美国高等教育学术界和实践界主要在大学生学习研究、大学生入学考试和高等教育专业评价三个领域里运用评估概念,形成了不同理解和应用传统。以学校资源和声誉为评价准绳的机构认证和民间大学排行曾是美国高等教育评估的两种重要传统。但近年来美国高等教育领域更加重视观察和研究导致学生取得学习产出的学习经验,也就是学生在大学里的学习行为,从而以此为依据评估学生学习和发展。

Originating in academe and practice respectively at the very beginning, American higher education assessment has become quite popular as academic study and practice are more and more intervolved. Using the concept of assessment in the areas of college student learning study, college entrance examination, and program evaluation in higher education institutions, they have developed different understandings and usages of assessment. Two traditional approaches to American higher education assessment are government accreditation based on college resources and reputation and unofficial college rankings. However, a recent trend in American higher education assessment focuses on the assessment of student learning and development by observing and studying their learning experiences which determine their learning outcomes （i.e., their learning behavior on campus）.