The graduate school began using Questionmark ™Perception™ in 2007 to perform institutional research that required conducting surveys and assessments. Before switching to Perception, DTS used independent databases and spreadsheets for the different surveys. This often posed challenges for data security and made reporting difficult and time consuming. Some of the assessments were on Scantron sheets, which proved to be a labor-intensive process for faculty and students who sometimes did not have a way to get to campus for the assessment.

DTS Assistant Director for Institutional Research Mark Howell says the seminary looked at several different possible solutions to move their surveys and assessments online. One of their primary goals was to choose a software solution that would provide more sophisticated analytical tools.

Depending on the nature of assessments – final exams in language courses, Bible or theology courses—DTS also uses tools like immediate feedback to offer students quick results.

Most often, on objective assessments like unit quizzes and final exams, the students see a summary sheet at the end of the assessment. This report shows them the score they received and lists the questions they missed with the correct answers. “Another high-stakes assessment we have them take is scored and analyzed, and the students receive a letter telling them how they did in terms of the percentile of the cohort they belong to and the historical percentile for different areas of the assessment,” says Howell. To him, the benefits of using online assessments are apparent:

“Questionmark Perception has aided faculty and staff in cutting much of the time spent manually grading assessments. We couldn’t be happier with the ease of access to assessments. No more sharpened #2 pencils around here!”