Narrowing student academic performance gaps

Students aspire to master key concepts in each course to earn grades corresponding to their desired levels of learning. Differences in what students should learn and what they have actually learned creates one kind of gap. Another gap, sometimes due to a lack of focus during the heat of examinations, is the difference between what students have actually learned and what they demonstrate on examinations. Together, these differences combine to form a student academic performance gap for each student. Both professors and students work together to maximize the learning process. Checks and balances are necessary to ensure that the learning process is working well and that the two kinds of gaps noted above are minimized for each student. This paper describes a five-step process somewhat like the process being required in accreditation planning to improve the learning process. Assessment data from examinations in three courses are analyzed and plans of action devised to narrow the student performance gap.