Benchmarks

5 Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice

NSSE‘s five Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice are based on 42 questions from the NSSE survey that capture many aspects of the student experience:

Level of Academic Challenge
Active and Collaborative Learning
Student-Faculty Interaction
Enriching Educational Experiences
Supportive Campus Environment

2010 NSSE data includes responses from 46% of Lawrence’s first-year and 37% of senior students. A total of 603 colleges and universities participated during this year.

Level of Academic Challenge

Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and collegiate quality. Colleges and universities promotehigh levels of student achievement by emphasizing the importance of academic effort and setting high expectations for student performance.

Hours spent preparing for class (studying, reading, writing, doing homework or lab work, etc. related to academic program)
Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings
Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more, between 5 and 19 pages, and fewer than 5 pages
Coursework emphasizes: Analysis of the basic elements of an idea, experience or theory
Coursework emphasizes: Synthesis and organizing of ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex interpretations and relationships
Coursework emphasizes: Making of judgments about the value of information, arguments, or methods
Coursework emphasizes: Applying theories or concepts to practical problems or in new situations
Working harder than you thought you could to meet an instructor’s standards or expectations
Campus environment emphasizes: Spending significant amount of time studying and on academic work

Active and Collaborative Learning

Students learn more when they are intensely involved in their education and asked to think about what they are learning in different settings. Collaborating with others in solving problems or mastering difficult material prepares students for the messy, unscripted problems they will encounter daily during and after college.

Asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions
Made a class presentation
Worked with other students on projects during class
Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments
Tutored or taught other students (paid or voluntary)
Participated in a community-based project (e.g., service learning) as part of a regular course
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with others outside of class (students, family members, co-workers, etc.)

Student-Faculty Interaction

Student Faculty Interaction Students learn firsthand how experts think about and solve practical problems by interacting with faculty members inside and outside the classroom. As a result, their teachers become role models, mentors, and guides for continuous, life-long learning.

Discussed grades or assignments with an instructor
Talked about career plans with a faculty member or advisor
Discussed ideas from your readings or classes with faculty members outside of class
Worked with faculty members on activities other than coursework (committees, orientation, student-life activities, etc.)
Received prompt written or oral feedback from faculty on your academic performance
Worked on a research project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements

Enriching Educational Experiences

Enriching Educational Experience Complementary learning opportunities enhance academic programs. Diversity experiences teach students valuable things about themselves and others. Technology facilitates collaboration between peers and instructors. Internships, community service, and senior capstone courses provide opportunities to integrate and apply knowledge.

Hours spent participating in co-curricular activities (organizations, campus publications, student gov., social fraternity or sorority, etc.)
Practicum, internship, field experience, co-op experience, or clinical assignment
Community service or volunteer work
Foreign language coursework and study abroad
Independent study or self-designed major
Culminating senior experience (capstone course, senior project/thesis, comprehensive exam, etc.)
Serious conversations with students of different religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values
Serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity than your own
Using electronic medium (e.g., listserv, chat group, Internet, instant messaging, etc.) to discuss or complete an assignment
Campus environment encouraging contact among students from different economic, social, and racial or ethnic backgrounds
Participate in a learning community or some other formal program where groups of students take two or more classes together

Supportive Campus Environment

Supportive Campus Environment Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success and cultivate positive working and social relations among different groups on campus.

Campus environment provides the support you need to help you succeed academically
Campus environment helps you cope with your non-academic responsibilities (work, family, etc.)
Campus environment provides the support you need to thrive socially
Quality of relationships with other students
Quality of relationships with faculty members
Quality of relationships with administrative personnel and offices