Work in progress - the impact of assessment in a freshman course on growing the characteristics of a quality learner

A case study investigating the relationship between (1) student self, peer, and instructor led assessment in an introductory engineering course and (2) movement across levels for characteristics in the profile of a quality learner as adapted from Pacific Crest has been designed. The hypothesis is that students will create significant movement in developing the characteristics of a quality learner when they are exposed to ongoing reflective practice about their learning in the course. Early in the semester an exercise describing the learner profile was introduced. Next, data will be collected about the level to which students satisfy the profile across various characteristics through direct observation, reflective journal entries, instructor assessment feedback, and a student survey. Finally, the data will be analyzed for trends in net movement across the different characteristics described in the profile. This work contributes to the literature on effects of student self-assessment in learning engineering, supplements work on peer and instructor led assessment in achieving course learning outcomes, and will provide a useful, broadly applicable instrument for measuring student performance as learners.