Outcomes, assessment and activities

Aligning Outcomes, Assessment, and Activities

Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG)

Empower financial aid staff with automated processes in Banner to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and strengthen student support, creating a flawless and data-driven financial aid experience. This shift in change will develop a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, helping staff to focus on priority tasks that directly impact student success. By leveraging automation, we will streamline workflows, increase accuracy, and ensure compliance with ever-evolving federal regulations.

Learning Outcomes	Assessment Evidence	Learning Activities
Understand the key features of Banner automation and its impact on financial aid processes.	Quiz on Banner automation terminology and functions.	Online module with instructional videos and knowledge checks.
Implement automation scripts in Banner to streamline financial aid workflows.	Practical hands-on project where staff configure and test automation in a sandbox environment.	Guided workshops and hands-on practice with real financial aid scenarios.
Connect automation processes with broader financial aid strategies and institutional goals.	Staff presentation on how automation supports compliance and efficiency.	Group discussions on real-world applications and peer feedback sessions.
Recognize the impact of automation on workload, job roles, and student support.	Reflective journal entries on personal experiences with automation adoption.	Case study analysis on institutions that have successfully implemented Banner automation.
Develop a proactive mindset toward automation adoption and continuous improvement.	Self-assessment on mindset and readiness for change.	Growth mindset workshop and team brainstorming sessions.
Build problem-solving skills to troubleshoot automation issues and adapt to future updates.	Performance-based assessment with real-time troubleshooting scenarios.	Role-playing exercises and mentorship opportunities with experienced staff.

Learning Environment & Situational Factors

Specific Context of the Learning Situation

Class Size & Audience:

The primary learners are financial aid staff, processors, and administrators.

Group size may vary on training needs, and sessions will include about 5 -15 individuals for hands-on training and 20 - 40 for informational workshops.

Course Level:

This course is a professional development training rather than an academic source.

This content is tailored for staff in the financial aid department.

Session Duration and Frequency:

Initial training sessions will take 60 to 90 minutes to introduce automation concepts.

Hands-on training sessions will take 2 to 3 hours to practice automation tools.

Support sessions will also be held to address potential challenges and optimize implementation.

Delivery Methods:

These methods include:

Live in-person workshops for hands-on practice.

Online class modules for quick learning and reference materials.

Provide virtual meetings for feedback and troubleshooting.

Physical and Technological Considerations:

All staff must have access to a computer and Banner software.

Those who work remotely require VPN access and a stable internet connection to access Banner.

Conference rooms or classrooms should be equipped with projectors and a computer podium for effective demonstrations.

General Context of the Learning Situation

Institutional Expectations:

The institution's expectations include improved efficiency, reduced manual errors, and faster processing speed in financial aid services.

Compliance with state and federal financial aid regulations is crucial and critical.

Professional Expectations:

Financial aid staff must stay updated with automation tools and regulatory compliance requirements.

The NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) and other organizations highlight the need for technological proficiency in financial aid offices.

Societal Expectations:

Students and parents anticipate faster and more accurate financial aid processing.

Institutions in higher education must update their operations to remain competitive and improve the overall student experience.

Nature of the Subject:

This topic will be primarily practical with theoretical pieces that relate to financial aid regulations, automation principles, and change management.

The training will be mostly convergent, with a focus on standard procedures and best practices for using automation in Banner.

Changes and Controversies:

Rapid Technological Advancements: AI and automation tools for financial aid solutions are changing every day.

Resistance to change: Financial aid staff may be hesitant to adopt automation due to their current roles, which concerns job security.

Regulatory Compliance: Automation in financial aid must align with federal guidelines, which are updated frequently throughout the aid year.

Characteristics of the Learners:

Life Situations:

Financial aid learners are working professionals, often handling multiple job roles and responsibilities.

Some staff members may not be very versed with technology, while others are comfortable with automation.

Prior Knowledge and Experiences:

Most staff in financial aid are familiar with the Banner system but may not have experience with automation tools.

Some staff may have had bad experiences with system changes or technology setbacks.

Learning Goals and Expectations:

Staff seek to maintain compliance while reducing and minimizing errors.

Staff want to reduce repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.

Staff expect step-by-step instructions with examples and applications.

Characteristics of the Teacher:

Beliefs and Values:

Having a growth mindset in believing in ongoing learning and improvement.

Encouraging hands-on learning and active participation.

Attitude Toward the Subject and Learner:

Passionate about learning automation to improve efficiency.

Understanding staff concerns and addressing resistance through communication and support.

Knowledge and Strengths:

Having a strong understanding of Banner and financial aid processes.

Effective at breaking down workflow processes into manageable learning steps.

Questions for Formulating Significant Learning Goals

“A year (or more) after this course is over, I want and hope that staff will…”

Confidently use automation tools in Banner to streamline financial aid processes.

Approach workflow improvements with a growth mindset, seeking efficiencies rather than relying on outdated manual workflows.

Providing feedback and identifying areas for optimization to ongoing improvements in automation.

Feel confident in using data-driven decision-making to improve student support and compliance.

Act as mentors for new employees who are learning financial aid automation.

Foundational Knowledge

Key Information:

Understanding the role of automation in financial aid processing.

Understand the core functions of Banner and how automation ties with existing workflows.

Compliance requirements and how automation ensures regulatory adherence.

Key automation tools such as process scheduling and process scripts.

Troubleshooting issues with automation in Banner.

Key Ideas and Perspectives:

Implementing automation is not about replacing jobs but about creating efficiency and accuracy.

Developing a growth mindset is important in adapting to technological changes.

Compliance and data integrity remain a focus point in automation implementation.

Improvements on processes will be an ongoing effort that will require collaboration and feedback.

Application Goals:

Critical Thinking:

Analyze current processes to identify inefficiencies.

Evaluate automation solutions for effectiveness and compliance.

Creative Thinking:

Create new automation workflows that are tailored to financial aid needs.

Adapt and fix existing automation tools to meet unique challenges.

Practical Thinking:

Solve daily operational challenges using automation tools.

Make decisions about when to automate and when manual processes are still necessary to use.

Important Skills to Gain:

Writing and making changes to basic automation scripts for Banner.

Managing and scheduling automated financial aid processes.

Troubleshooting and resolving common automation issues.

Training and providing support to peers using automation tools.

Managing Complex Projects:

Financial aid staff will learn to plan, adjust, and implement automation projects using change management strategies.

Staff will keep track of their progress using measurable goals and adapt based on feedback.

Integration Goals

Connections Among Ideas in this Course:

How automation will enhance efficiency, compliance, and student success.

The importance of continuous learning in adapting to changing technology.

How this will go hand-in-hand between financial aid regulations and automation's role in keeping compliance.

Connections to Other Areas:

The role of automation in business process improvement in other departments such as enrollment and student billing.

How automation connects with institutional digital transformation initiatives.

Connections to Work and Life:

How automation reduces workload and burnout by removing repetitive manual tasks.

Use automation skills in other areas of work or personal productivity.

Human Dimensions Goals

What Staff Will Learn About Themselves:

They are capable of learning and applying automation, even if staff are not well-versed in using technology.

They will be able to contribute to innovation within the Financial Aid department.

They will be more inclined to embrace change rather than fear it.

What Staff Will Learn About Interacting with Others:

The importance of cross-department collaboration for successful automation implementation.

How to communicate effectively process changes to other staff.

How to provide and receive feedback on automation improvements.

Caring Goals

Changes in Feelings, Interests, and Values:

Shifting from resistance to excitement for automation.

Develop a sense of ownership over improvements in processes.

Increase motivation in finding solutions to financial aid challenges.

Interest in professional development and continuous learning.

Learning How-to-Learn Goals

How to be a Good Learner in this Course:

Engage with training materials actively rather than just listening.

Actively ask questions and collaborate with other peers to reinforce learning.

Apply automation methods in scenarios to deepen understanding.

How to Learn About Financial Aid Automation:

Seek out resources such as Banner documentation on automation or webinars on automation strategies.

Join peer networks to share best practices.

Experiment with automation in a test environment before implementing it in production.

How to Become A Self-Directed Learner in this Field:

Create a learning plan to stay current on automation advancements.

Set professional growth goals that are related to the improvement of processes.

Stay motivated in identifying new opportunities for automation.

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