UWM General Education Task Force- Partial GLOSSARY of Terms

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs) (as defined by AAC&U – see - http://www.aacu.org/leap/vision.cfm - for further information).

Derived from the LEAP Standards; includes: Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World; Intellectual and Practical Skills; Personal and Social Responsibility; and Integrative Learning.

General Education (as defined by AAC&U - see – http://www.aacu.org/leap/What_is_Liberal_Education.cfm - for further information)

That part of a liberal education curriculum shared by all students; provides broad exposure to multiple disciplines and forms the basis for developing important intellectual and civic capacities.

HIPs - High-Impact Educational Practices: A Brief Overview (Excerpt from High-Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them, and Why They Matter, by George D. Kuh (AAC&U, 2008)).

Teaching and learning practices that have been widely tested and have been shown to be beneficial for college students from many backgrounds. They may include: First-Year Seminars and Experiences; Common Intellectual Experiences; Learning Communities; Writing-Intensive Courses; Collaborative Assignments and Projects; Undergraduate Research; Diversity/Global Learning; Service Learning and Community-Based Learning; Internships; and Capstone Courses and Projects.

LEAP - Liberal Education and America’s Promise (as defined by AAC&U - see - http://www.aacu.org/leap/index.cfm - for further information)

An initiative, sponsored by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU), that champions the value of a liberal education by focusing on campus practices that foster essential learning outcomes for all students, whatever their chosen field of study. Wisconsin is the first official partner state for this initiative.

Liberal Education is an approach to learning that empowers individuals and prepares them to deal with complexity, diversity, and change. It provides students with broad knowledge of the wider world (e.g. science, culture, and society) as well as in-depth study in a specific area of interest. A liberal education helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, as well as strong and transferable intellectual and practical skills such as communication, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings. The broad goals of liberal education have been enduring even as the courses and requirements that comprise a liberal education have changed over the years. Today, a liberal education usually includes a general education curriculum that provides broad learning in multiple disciplines and ways of knowing, along with more in-depth study in a major.

WEAVE (Write expected outcomes/objectives, Establish criteria for success, Assess performance against criteria, View assessment results, Effect improvement through actions). For further information see http://www.weaveonline.com/.

The on-line template UWM is using to assist academic programs in making student learning assessment record keeping simple and easy-to-use. Definitions of terms used in WEAVE, such as mission, goals, student outcomes, measures, findings, academic plans, etc., are available on UWM’s web site at http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/assessmentatuwm and also within the WEAVE system itself.