With  approval  from  IIMC  on  September  1,  2009,  the learning outcomes assessment  tool  has  been  changed  from  the individual professional development plan (IPDP journals)  to  a  new  assessment  tool  (memo)  in accordance with IIMC’s education   guidelines.    Michael   Dugan,   Institute   Director;   Donna Boone-Caldwell,  Chairman  of  the  Professional  Development and Education Committee;  and  Stephanie Moon, VMCA President,  revised the assessment tool to address IIMC’s  requirements with the method as set forth below:

At  the end of each day (during class time) the clerk will complete a daily  log for that day. The daily logs will serve as “working notes” for  preparation  of  the actual assessment tool which will be in the form  of  a  memorandum addressed to the clerk’s elected official(s), describing  how  the course work  (taken during the Institute/Academy or  Annual  State  Conference)  may  be  applied  to  the  day-to-day operations   in   the  clerk’s  office.  The  memo,  which  shall  be approximately  1,500  words  –  or  about one page, will be submitted directly  to  the  Institute Director with the daily logs attached to the  memo.  The  submitted  memo  will  be  reviewed by the Institute Director  and will not be forwarded to the clerk’s elected officials. Upon  confirmation  by  the  Institute  Director  that  the clerk has complied with  the assessment  tool  submission  requirement,  a Certificate  of Attendance with specific hours of instruction will be issued.

The  purpose  of  daily  log  is  to account for knowledge gained from each class.  The  daily  log will consist of four to five questions requiring the clerk  to  think  and reflect on the classes attended. The final memorandum will  compile  that  knowledge  and,  hopefully,  demonstrate how it can be transferred  to the clerk’s day-to-day job activities. One main goal of the proposed change is to encourage clerks to spend more time (outside of class time)  networking  with  fellow  clerks.   It  is  our  hope  that this new assessment  method will fulfill IIMC’s goal of learning outcomes assessment and  help encourage everyone to use the networking opportunity in addition to class time as a valuable resource in their jobs.

The Word document of the Daily Learning Log can be found here.

When you have completed your memo and attached your Daily Learning Log questions, email the document to mdugan@odu.edu. The document is due to the Institute Director on Friday, October 16th.