Institute for Student Learning Assessment

Celebrating Diversity: Using and Measuring the Impact of StrengthsQuest

This panel fits the “Best-practice examples of instructional/assessment practice to develop diversity outcomes.” Students who experience StrengthsQuest based learning will have a greater appreciation for their own strengths and better understand/appreciate the actions of students with different strengths from their own. Each presenter has different outcomes and assessments in using the StrengthsQuest learning approach. In the Department of Communication Studies, Communication and Leadership class (COMM 535), students use strengths in class activities, to self-select more diverse work teams for a group project, and write self-reflections about how they are actively using their strengths to be successful as a student and leader. Assessments include reflection papers, group project work, and a learning portfolio. In Leadership Studies, students taking Introduction to Leadership Concepts (LEAD 212) explore StrengthsQuest as a way to learn about self and how they can best leverage their own strengths and the strengths of others when exercising leadership. Through a service-learning experience students apply their knowledge of strengths in working with a team, and practice various approaches of engaging with one another throughout the service experience. At the Academic and Career Information Center, students are guided to majors, minors, and career opportunities that allow them to capitalize on their strengths. In addition to a follow-up survey for appointments, students in the Academic and Career Decisions class (EDCEP 120) take a pre- and post- test regarding their Career Self Confidence. This assessment includes questions to better understand identification and application of Strengths.