Assessing Non-Academic Skills
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Hi All:
As a parallel discussion to the math placement test, I would like to ask everyone how they assess non-academic characteristics and skills that may play a role in student academic success or failure (e.g., long-range goals, realistic self-appraisal, support network, self-concept, leadership, community involvement, etc.). And, how you use that information to guide program development to help students build those skills.
I'm thinking of the work by Sedlacek ("Beyond the Big Test: Noncognitive Assessment in Higher Education) and some of his studies of nontraditional student populations with unique cultural and life experiences. These "noncognitive variables" seem to be better predictors of persistence in college than just looking at traditional test scores of verbal and quantitative abilities.
Cynthia Zafft, Senior Advisor
National College Transition Network
It might be worth looking at some testing usually done with persons with disabilities participating in a vocational rehabilitation program. Some of the tests administered by the psychologist (vocational interest and aptitude) as well as test administered in the context of a work evaluation speak to the motivation and persistence of the individual in both work and academic areas.
Robin Matusow
Rehabilitation Instructional Specialist
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
