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Primary Trait Analysis
Primary Trait Analysis
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College Teaching
Abstract. The article describes Primary Trait ment assessment initiatives may . . . have (1993, 10). With classroom-based assess
Analysis (PTA) as a technique for instructors become a rush ... to ensure educational ment, "External evaluators are able to
interested in classroom-based assessment. The
quality by providing concrete evidence engage in a more holistic assessment of
study continues with the history of PTA at
Raymond Walters College (RWC) and about instructional performance" (1998, student learning by examining actual
explains how RWC faculty developed PTA 50). As all educational institutions are examples of student performance rather
scales to communicate learning objectives and aware, accrediting agencies require than by relying only on numerical ratings.
evaluative criteria to students. The article pro assessment to be documented. St. Ours This leads to consensual validation of
vides several specific scales as examples. This
and Corsello confirm, "Faculty no longer learning outcomes" (Farmer 1993, 10).
work demonstrates that PTA can be easily
adopted in any classroom to improve teaching need to be convinced of the importance of Another advantage is that PTA improves
and learning. these efforts; they are now willing to share teacher/student communication regardless
their observations, plans, and outcomes of discipline. The nature of the assign
derived from the assessment process" ment, the expectations, and learning out
(1998, 6). Unfortunately, the process of comes become more obvious to both
Primary Trait Analysis (PTA) is an
effective tool for classroom-based assessment often takes on a life of its own. teacher and student. Classroom research
assessment. It can be used to Albone appeals to our common sense on at the University of Cincinnati, Raymond
this issue with the statement that "assess Walters College (RWC) is based on the
improve teaching and learning outcomes
as well as improve dialogue within depart ment should be the consequence of an premise that "[cjlassroom teachers know
ments. It may also be used to fulfill accred ongoing quality program, not a goal for its the data earliest and most thoroughly, and
iting associations' assessment require own sake" (1998, 6). because they own it they have strong
ments. Primary Trait Analysis scales Primary Trait Analysis fulfills this incentives to act on it" (Walvoord, Bardes,
provide a basis for modifying assign requirement easily. One strength of this and Dent?n 1998, 10). RWC has been
ments, determining class focus, and estab measure is that it is discipline specific; it successfully using Primary Trait Analysis
has been used successfully in disciplines since 1995 to assess its educational
lishing department and institutional goals.
The National Center for Postsecondary as diverse as biology, chemistry, English, process. As a result, 80 percent of all
Improvement states, "the outcomes foreign language, history, math, and many full-time faculty in 100 percent of the
assessment movement in higher education
others. It allows an instructor to define departments use Primary Trait Analysis
has steadily, and rather quietly, gained goals and evaluate and assess student (Academic Assessment Committee 1998).
achievement of the goals as each disci In this article we will demonstrate how
momentum. In fact, the push to imple
pline requires. Farmer was an early pro PTA has become a successful assessment
ponent of this facet of assessment. He tool at RWC and that it can be adopted at
Judith A. Baughin is a professor of analyzed discipline specific and generic any school, college, or university.
Romance languages and chair of the foreign assessment designs and found that "facul
language department, Evelyn F. Brod is a ty in different disciplines have different
What Is Primary Trait Analysis?
professor of Spanish, and Deborah L. Page Primary Trait Analysis is a rubric scale
expectations of students at the point of
is an assistant professor of German, all at the
University of Cincinnati, Raymond Walters graduation, as determined by the frame that communicates to students exactly
College. works of their respective disciplines" what is expected of them on an assign
Vol. 50/No. 2 75
76 COLLEGE TEACHING
useful only if those scores can directly 4 points (A): You voluntarily partici ownership of and responsibility for their
inform teaching and learning in the class pate with a high degree of accuracy. You progress. The process of assigning that
room" (2000, 281). These modifications are fully prepared for class and have com grade usually took less than a few min
may involve the particular assignment, pleted all assigned work with few errors. utes after each class. The positive results
in the classroom, with added volunteer
the manner of teaching, or even entire You are prepared to ask questions about
courses and curricula. After using the anything you do not understand. You take participation, and meaningful classes to
PTA scale on a class assignment, the the risk of speaking. which students came prepared, already
instructor looks at the distribution of 3 points (B): You voluntarily partici aware of what they did not understand,
grades earned by the students and calcu pate with a lesser degree of accuracy. You highlighted this PTA scale's success.
lates data pertaining to student perfor are fully prepared for class and have com
Assignment: Oral Presentation
mance. The results guide the instructor in pleted all assigned work. However, you
analyzing, modifying and improving not may have produced significant errors in In beginning and elementary French
only the PTA scale, but also teaching homework preparation. You are prepared classes, the instructor requires students to
practices. Anderson and Walvoord (1991) to ask questions about anything you do give a five- to ten-minute presentation in
point out that significant improvement in not understand. You take the risk of French about their families. The activity
student learning is possible when instruc speaking when prompted. affords students the opportunity to use the
tors use a PTA scale to assess that learn 2 points (C): You rarely volunteer and vocabulary and structures they have stud
ing and then change their teaching meth have a low degree of accuracy. You are ied and practiced in a more authentic sit
ods accordingly. This closes the feedback not sufficiently prepared and your home uation. With appropriate modifications by
loop, a crucial factor of the assessment work may be incomplete or very inaccu individual instructors in other disciplines,
process. rate. You do not risk speaking initially. this rubric could form the basis for any
You lack total engagement in class. oral presentation:
Sample PTA Scales 1 point (D): Your preparation is not evi
dent. You do not respond unless called A: Student speaks in French 90-100 per
The following examples demonstrate cent of time. Student makes few or no
upon directly. Your responses are general
various styles of PTA scales. Although mistakes in French. Student does not
ly not accurate enough to communicate
they are devised for particular disciplines, use notes during presentation. Student
clearly. You are engaged in the class
they are neither course nor discipline spe turns in outline of presentation on
cific. activities on the most minimal level, with
no apparent attempt to speak. time. Student uses excellent pronunci
0points (F): You are absent from class. ation, vocabulary, and/or sentence
Assignment: Daily Participation (sample
structure. Student uses originality or
from Elementary German)
The instructor reasoned that being able imagination in presentation (props
Meaningful preparation for and partic to use a more objective tool to assign a such as a family photo and/or a family
ipation in each class meeting are essential grade for participation positively assisted tree). Student speaks for five to ten
to a student's success in a foreign lan evaluation of oral performance and stu minutes.
guage and many other courses of study. dent lesson preparation. Students had B: Student speaks in French 80-90 perc
To make evaluation of participation as something concrete upon which to base ent of time. Student makes some mis
objective as possible, this PTA scale their daily activities in the classroom, and takes in French. Student may occa
addresses the speaking goal of a depart as some stated, they felt a sense of per sionally refer to notes. Student turns in
ment's curriculum. As with all faculty sonal responsibility in determining their outline of presentation on time. Stu
who must assign a grade to student class own success during each class meeting. dent needs some work on pronuncia
room performance, foreign language fac At least once in the course, the instructor tion, vocabulary, and/or sentence
ulty struggle with this component of eval gave students the opportunity to rate structure. Student uses some original
uation, which students often view as themselves, and they were very accurate ity or imagination in presentation. Stu
more subjective than a test, quiz, or paper in rating their own participation when dent speaks for five to ten minutes.
grade. The instructor distributes the PTA they used this scale. Other instructors C: Student speaks in French 70-80 per
scale for oral participation and assigns a may choose to have students rate them cent of time. Student makes mistakes
daily grade. Other instructors may prefer selves more frequently. Those students in pronunciation, vocabulary, and/or
to assign a weekly grade. Faculty can who knew they had come to class fully sentence structure. Student uses writ
Vol. 50/No. 2 77
78 COLLEGE TEACHING
Vol. 50/No. 2 79
80 COLLEGE TEACHING