General Education Outcomes (GEOs) JOE TERRERI Professor of Mathematics General Education Outcomes Coordinator

Main Objectives of GEO Initiative 1. Improve our General Education curriculum to benefit our students. What is General Education? General Education is the distinguishing feature of higher education. It is a broadly-based core of humanistic knowledge and abilities, the acquisition of which is the distinctive characteristic of the educated person. Note: Refer to Philosophy Statement in the “General Education Requirements” handout. “General Education Requirements” handout.

Main Objectives of GEO Initiative 2. Measure our institutional effectiveness. Relevant part of the Mt. SAC Mission Statement: “Provide quality transfer, career, and lifelong learning programs that prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in an interconnected world.”

GEO Committee Members Joe Terreri - General Education Outcomes Coordinator (Co-Chair) Joe Terreri - General Education Outcomes Coordinator (Co-Chair) Barbara McNeice-Stallard - Director, Research & Institutional Effectiveness (Co-Chair) Barbara McNeice-Stallard - Director, Research & Institutional Effectiveness (Co-Chair) Debbie Boroch - Interim Dean, Instructional Services Debbie Boroch - Interim Dean, Instructional Services Darrow Soares - Student Learning Outcomes Coordinator Darrow Soares - Student Learning Outcomes Coordinator Priya Chaplot - Educational Research Assessment Analyst Priya Chaplot - Educational Research Assessment Analyst Kate Scott - Information Technology Representative Kate Scott - Information Technology Representative John Vitullo - Faculty Representative Area A John Vitullo - Faculty Representative Area A VACANCY – Faculty Representative Area B VACANCY – Faculty Representative Area B Kristine Allende - Faculty Representative Area C Kristine Allende - Faculty Representative Area C VACANCY – Faculty Representative Area D VACANCY – Faculty Representative Area D Melinda Bowen - Faculty Representative Area E Melinda Bowen - Faculty Representative Area E Terry Krider – Vocational Area Representative Terry Krider – Vocational Area Representative

Today’s Objectives Promote understanding of the GEOs Initiative. Promote understanding of the GEOs Initiative. Obtain input for establishing GEOs at Mt. SAC. Obtain input for establishing GEOs at Mt. SAC.

What is a GEO? Student Learning Outcome (SLO): a statement about what a student will think, know, feel, or be able to do as a result of an educational experience. Student Learning Outcome (SLO): a statement about what a student will think, know, feel, or be able to do as a result of an educational experience. General Education Outcome (GEO): a statement that defines the characteristics that we would like to see in a student who satisfies our general education requirements. They can be classified as relating to content knowledge from a range of disciplines, to expected intellectual abilities or to the development of values commensurate with those of an educated citizen in a democratic society. *A GEO IS A TYPE OF AN SLO.* General Education Outcome (GEO): a statement that defines the characteristics that we would like to see in a student who satisfies our general education requirements. They can be classified as relating to content knowledge from a range of disciplines, to expected intellectual abilities or to the development of values commensurate with those of an educated citizen in a democratic society. *A GEO IS A TYPE OF AN SLO.*

Life Cycle of a GEO GEO Gather Evidence Interpretation Use of Results Reassess/ Revise

Course-level SLO MATH Math ___ SLO: __________ Math 181 SLO: Students will be able to compute a fluid force integral. Math ___ SLO: __________ NOTE: SLOs stay within the discipline!

GEO GEO Discipline A: GE Course SLO: __________ Discipline B: GE Course SLO: __________ Discipline C: GE Course SLO: __________ NOTE: GEOs cross disciplinary boundaries!

Characteristics of a GEO Shared - reinforced throughout and across the GE curriculum Shared - reinforced throughout and across the GE curriculum Central to role of GE curriculum in accordance with the college mission Central to role of GE curriculum in accordance with the college mission Quantifiable - assessable Quantifiable - assessable Well-defined Well-defined Reviseable Reviseable

Activity 1 Length: 10 minutes Length: 10 minutes Purpose: data collection. Purpose: data collection. Task: Break out into groups. Discuss material so far. Come up with 3-5 key GEOs, guided by commonalities of what is taught. Record results. Task: Break out into groups. Discuss material so far. Come up with 3-5 key GEOs, guided by commonalities of what is taught. Record results. Report out. Report out.

GEOs and Accreditation “General Education has comprehensive learning outcomes for the students who complete it, including the following:...” “General Education has comprehensive learning outcomes for the students who complete it, including the following:...” Note: Refer to the “GEO Accreditation Standard II.A.3” handout.

Solano Community College Upon completion of Solano Community College’s General Education program, a student will demonstrate competency in the following areas: Upon completion of Solano Community College’s General Education program, a student will demonstrate competency in the following areas: 1. Communication 2. Critical Thinking and Information Competency 3. Global Awareness 4. Personal Responsibility and Professional Development Reference:

SCC: A Core Competency Communication Communication –Read  Students will be able to comprehend and interpret various types of written information in (1) expository prose... –Write  Students demonstrate the ability to communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing –Listen  Students will be able to receive, attend to, interpret, and respond appropriately to (1) verbal and/or (2) nonverbal... –Speak and Converse  Students have the ability to organize ideas and communicate verbal or non-verbal messages appropriate to the audience and the situation

Activity 2 Length: 10 minutes Length: 10 minutes Task: Break out into “interest groups” to further define GEOs created during Activity 1. Record results. Task: Break out into “interest groups” to further define GEOs created during Activity 1. Record results. Report out. Report out.

Tentative Timeline November survey results + Flex Day inputs  Presentation of initial draft to Senate by late March  Dissemination through the campus community for review and input  Senate adoption of GEOs for Mt. SAC by the end of Spring 2008

Contact Information Joseph Terreri Professor of Mathematics General Education Outcomes Coordinator ext General Education Outcomes Committee webpage: /generaled/