most collenges and universities are teaching institution, and most faculty-70 percent according to a 1985 carnegie survey(chronicles of higher education, december 18, 1985)-say they are more interested in teaching than in research.Given these facts, it makes sense to encourage faculty to seek professional identity and intellectual challenge through disciplined inquiry into teaching and learning in their classroom.in this way, faculty can continue to enchance their abillity to achieve high levels of competence in their chosen-teaching-as they deepen thier understanding of learning in their particular disciplines.classroom assessment is an effort to encourage and assist those faculty who wish to become more knowledgeable, involved, and successful as college teachers.