Primary Trait Analysis
Some Thoughts That Seem Significant
- Assessment, as illustrated through Primary Trait Analysis, or PTA, does not determine relative contributions of curriculum structure, teaching styles, learning styles, student or faculty effort, student study habits, etc. In other words, assessment is non-judgmental and does not assign fault or blame.
- Assessment makes learning visible to dispel assumptions, guesses, and rumors.
- Primary Trait Analysis makes teaching conscious. It uses information already [unconsciously] available.
- PTA, and assessment in general, requires a faculty conversation about student learning.
- If the sample is large, multiple readings of the same papers are unnecessary.
- Primary traits may be identical to what are called goals or learning objectives.