SUMMARY
As computer science educators, we are being pushed to de-
fine (by accreditation agencies, within our institutions, etc.)
our courses and programs in terms of measurable outcomes.
The Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) is responsible
for reviewing and accrediting computer sciences departments
across the United States. As part of this review
process, computer science departments must specify
and measure student learning objectives and outcomes (see
criteria at http://www.abet.org/cac1.html). The same is
true for institution-wide accreditation (for example, by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education). Also, faculty
who are composing proposals for NSF or other funding
agencies are expected to provide descriptions of objectives
and outcomes and how these are to be measured