Democratically Engaged Assessment

For many years, the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) has been using a democratically engaged assessment method we’ve named the Data Lab. Democratically engaged assessment is an assessment framework that is explicitly grounded in, informed by, and in dialogue with the (contested) values of democratic engagement.

What is a Data Lab?

In a data lab, people with a common investment in a program, center, class, or shared experience come together to look carefully and playfully at artifacts (data) that emerge from that common investment.

Two goals of data labs are to build a culture of inquiry and to develop and refine programs and curriculum based on evidence.  

We have learned that intentionally encouraging creative interaction with the data we are studying is critical to the data lab’s success. While it is tempting to simply let participants discuss artifacts in the ways already familiar to most of us, we instead strive to set up distinctive and spirited interactions with data. In data labs, creativity and playfulness matter because we are aiming to freshen people’s relationship with the act of assessment itself. As part of a larger assessment ecosystem, we have found data labs especially beneficial in that they help to catalyze an inclusive, collaborative, and ongoing practice of meaning-making.

Data Lab Themes

Selecting a theme is a fun step in planning a Data Lab. In the CCE, we've hosted Data Labs with many themes, including Harry Potter, archeaology, gardening, and winter wonderland. As you plan different stations with your theme in mind, you'll ask questions, such as:

• What are we learning about (focus of the data lab) from this data?
• What do we wish we knew?
• What does the data not tell us that we want to know?

Sample Data Lab Stations

Pensieve (Harry Potter Theme)

Pick one essay and read it. The assignment in this class was for students to notice something at their service site that raised a biochemical question that they could answer while researching biochemical literature.

Using the pensieve worksheet, draw a picture of the moment that you see in the pensive (in the student essay), in which the student identifies the connection to biochemistry.

Magnifying Glass (Archaeology Theme)

Archaeologists study human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture (i.e. artifacts). Today, we are archaeologists, and our tool is a magnifying lens. The artifact is a presentation given by a senior Bonner Scholar reflecting about the development of his/her civic identity. In the lens of the magnifying glass, record quotes you hear that reveal the student’s civic identity. Outside of the magnifying glass, record other insights the student learned from his/her community engagement experiences not directly related to their civic identity.