Assessment of GE Synthesis 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel Topics Assessment Guidelines Example Assessment Questions Example Assessment Methods Summary Challenges 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

GE Synthesis Assessment Sub Committee W. Girouard-IME P. deFreitas-EWS N. Fernandez-IGE M. Godfrey – HRM C. Caenepeel - CME 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

GE Synthesis Assessment Guidelines Use Qualitative or Quantitative Measurements Determine Course Effectiveness Relative to Expected Educational Outcomes Identify Methods for Improving Course 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Suggested Techniques for Assessment *************************** Questionnaire (not a test) Portfolio Class Interview by Instructor Assessment Paper Exit Interviews Focus Groups Various Types of Surveys 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

GE Synthesis Course Categories ************************* B4-Science & Technology C4-Humanities D4-Social Sciences Interdisciplinary 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Strategies for B4-Science & Technology Synthesis Courses 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for B4 Synthesis (31 Courses) How to Improve Course? Does Large Enrollment Detract? Would You Recommend Course? How Well Does Course Meet Goals? Is Teaching Method Effective? What Hindered Learning? What Assisted You Most? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for B4 Synthesis (31 Courses) How Course Improved Understanding? How Important were Educational Objectives? How to Improve Educational Objectives? Did Course Use Prerequisite Knowledge? Did Course Fit B4 Guidelines? What about Course may be used in Future Career Field? What Class Information Helped Student Reach Conclusion? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for B4 Synthesis (31 Courses) Did Student Outcomes Match Expected Outcomes? What Topics were Most Interesting &/or Useful? How did Course Hold your Interest? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for B4 Synthesis (31 Courses) Use Dept. & Course Objective Questionnaires Extract info.from Essay part of Exam Encourage Large Group Discussion+Require Reaction Paper Evaluate Student Posters that Focus on Specific Aspect of Course Use Intragroup Peer Review 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for B4 Synthesis (31 Courses) Use End of Course Written Evaluation-Subjective Use GIFT=Group Instructional Feedback Technique (Numerical Rating) Require Five Summary Page Review Explain how Ed Objectives were Covered in Exercises Require Weekly Reaction Paper 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Method of B4 Synthesis (31 Courses) Rate Importance of Ed Obj. & Suggest How to Improve Them. Review Portfolios Interview Class by Instructor Use Focus Group+Survey Conduct Group Exit Interviews Use Early , Midway & Final Course Surveys 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Strategies for C4-Humanities Synthesis Courses 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for C4 Synthesis (8 Courses) Did Course use Humanities Prerequisites? Did Course Provide Deeper Understanding of Particular Area of Humanities? Did Course Promote Critical Thinking & Problem Solving? How Effective was Course in Achieving Educational Objectives? Did Course Draw on Life Experience? Did Course Cause You to Think in Synthetic Ways? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for C4 Synthesis (8 Courses) How Should Course be Improved? Did Course Give New Perspective on American Ideology? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for C4 Synthesis (8 Courses) Use Special Oral Assignments Use Special Written Assignments Solicit Feedback from Questionnaire Review Portfolios Conduct Class Interviews Observe in Class Focus Group Evaluate Class Surveys 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for C4 Synthesis (8 Courses) Perform Content Analysis of Sample of Student Writing Compare First vs last paper 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Strategies for D4-Social Science Synthesis Courses 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for D4 Synthesis (13 Courses) Has Course Demonstrated Importance of Understanding Contemporary Issues? Has Course Used Social Science Prerequisites? How Effective was Course Coverage of Educational Objectives? Has Course Provided a Deeper Understanding of an Area of Social Science? Did Course Promote Critical Thinking & Problem Solving ? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for D4 Synthesis (13 Courses) Review Assessment Paper with Quantitative Ratings & Explanations Conduct Reviews by Accrediting Board, Advisory Council & Curriculum Committee Conduct Content Analysis of Written Assignments Perform End of Course Survey to Rate Coverage of Ed. Objectives 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for D4 Synthesis (13 Courses) Require Development of Portfolio- Comparing Lower Div vs Synthesis Review Journal of Readings & Presentations Facilitate Large Group Discussion of Quarter Accomplishments Implement Exit Instrument to Measure Growth Conduct Interviews of Sample of Class 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Strategies for Interdisciplinary Synthesis Courses 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for Interdisciplinary Synthesis (12 Courses) How Can Course be Improved? Would you Recommend Course to Others? What are the Multidisciplinary Aspects of the Course? Has Course Effectively Used Prerequisites? How do You Rate Your Ability to Apply What Learned from Course? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for Interdisciplinary Synthesis (12 Courses) How do You Rate Improvement of the Identification & Solution of Problems Based on Course Experience? How has Course Improved Your Communication Skills? How has Course Improved your Teamwork Skills? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Key Assessment Questions for Interdisciplinary Synthesis (12 Courses) Did Course Provide You with Deeper Understanding of Science & Tech,Humanities or Soc Science? Did Course Improve Your Ability to Apply Concepts from Science & Tech,Humanities or Soc Science? Did Course Promote Critical Thinking & Problem Solving? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for Interdisciplinary Synthesis (12 Courses) Perform Content Analysis of Research Paper & Oral Report Relative to in Depth Use of Course Concepts Conduct WEBCT Survey to Rate Coverage of Educational Objectives Compare Students’ Ability to perform Independent Research & think Creatively & Evaluatively at Beginning, Middle and End of Course 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Assessment Methods for Interdisciplinary Synthesis (12 Courses) Require Exit Essay Designed to Determine if Educational Objectives were met 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel Summary Presented Guidelines for Assessment of GE Synthesis Courses Exist Summarized Proposed Assessment Strategies for Synthesis Courses 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel Challenges How does one develop strategies for upper division GE program assessment? What are incentives for doing course & program assessment for GE synthesis? How can assessment be imbedded in coursework to minimize extra work? What are reasonable expectations for reporting assessment results since assessment data belongs to Instructor? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel

Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel Challenges How does one Handle the Feedback Portion of Assessment? i.e., Implementation of Changes Made to Improve a Course Since there are Different Assessment Tools Proposed Specific Courses in GE Synthesis Courses Sub Areas-How does one Accomplish Upper Division GE Program Assessment? 4/13/2019 Academic Programs - C.L. Caenepeel