GE R UBRIC /A SSESSMENT AT CSUN: S TARTING S MALL AND S CALING U P Beth Lasky, Director of GE Anu Thakur, Coordinator of Academic Assessment 1

F ORMING T HE T EAM Different colleges and departments Tenured, tenure-track, full-time lecturer, part-time lecturer 2

T HE P ROCESS - CCS Discuss classes and assignments to identify commonalities Develop rubric Assess sample reflection papers from each of the five classes using a common CCS rubric Indirect assessment implemented in Spring 2014 – pre- and post-surveys to assess student motivation in the class 3

THE RUBRIC Assignment Component Excellent 4 Good 3 Adequate 2 Poor 1 Content Reflection Articulates awareness of how own experiences have shaped perception towards other cultures and/or people with different backgrounds Identifies own experiences, biases or changing perceptions and gives significant supportive evidence. Identifies own experiences, biases, or changing perceptions and provides some supportive evidence Identifies either own experiences, or bias, or changing perceptions, but not enough supportive evidence. Does not identify own experiences, biases, or changing perceptions and provides no support Empathy/Openness Recognizes the feelings and views of others from diverse backgrounds Effectively discusses the feelings and views of others from diverse backgrounds Discusses the feelings and views of others from diverse backgrounds Adequately discusses the feelings and views of others from diverse backgrounds Does not recognize the feelings and views of others from diverse backgrounds Observations Descriptions about diverse group or contexts Observations are specific and objective with significant supporting data or facts Good observations that are specific with good supporting data or facts Observations are general with adequate supporting data or facts Lacking in observations and/or sufficient data. Application of Knowledge Links course concepts to personal views and experiences Effectively applies course concepts to personal views and experiences Good application of course concepts to personal views and experiences Adequately applies course concepts to personal views and experiences Does not apply course concepts to personal views and experiences Style Writing & Organization Writing is free from grammatical errors. Paper is well organized and flows well Paper has excellent grammar and organization Paper has good grammar and organization Paper has adequate grammar and organization Paper has many grammatical errors and poor organization 4

INDIRECT ASSESSMENT Pre-test questions - student involvement/motivation survey I am taking this course to gain knowledge and fundamentals on the topic (terminology, theories, methods, trends). As a result of this course, I have increased my knowledge in this subject. I am taking this course to develop specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by professionals in the field most closely related to this course I am taking this course to gain a broader understanding and appreciation of cultures and/or people with different backgrounds. From this course, I expect to analyze and critically evaluate diverse ideas, arguments and points of view. I am interested in taking this course, because of the instructor. Based on the course title/description, this course is relevant to my course of study. Based on my current and existing knowledge in this subject, I feel prepared to do well in this course. I am taking this course because I am genuinely interested in the topic/subject of the course. I am taking this course because it fit most conveniently in my schedule. 5

INDIRECT ASSESSMENT Post-test questions - student involvement/motivation survey As a result of this course, my interest in this department or field of study has increased. As a result of this course, I have increased my knowledge in this subject. My background prepared me well for this course’s requirements. As a result of taking this course, I have more positive feelings toward this field of study. Regardless of why I originally decided to take the course, I am happy that I did. As a result of this course, I have developed specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by professionals in the field. As a result of this course I have gained a broader understanding and appreciation of cultures and/or people with different backgrounds. As a result of taking this course, I have more positive feelings toward the field of study. As a result of taking this course, I am contemplating changing my major. Please list 3 specific ideas or competencies that you have learned in this course that you will take back to real life applications. 6

I MPLEMENTATION OF THE R UBRIC Ask other instructors in CCS to use the rubric – presentations to General Education Council Various departments across campus Associate Deans Team members used rubric for grading in their classes 7

GE C RITICAL T HINKING A SSESSMENT 8 Critical Thinking GE assessment/rubric team Five common steps and competencies: Introduce and Define Recognize Analyze Evaluate Apply to current issues and problem solving Diagnostic questionnaire as pre-test at start of semester Continue discussions about strategies for longitudinal assessment using quizzes and/or essays

DIAGNOSTIC PROMPT Embryonic stem cell research is like Nazi research. It does not respect the sanctity of life of the fetus, like the Nazis did not respect the life of the people they experimented on. Next thing we know we will be using full grown fetuses for research or worse. Such blatant disregard for human life was immoral for the Nazis and it should be immoral for stem cell research. Therefore, we should not engage in embryonic stem cell research. 1) Please state, from the above passage, whether the argument is rational (or at least whether the premises provide rational support for the conclusion) and why? 2) Are the premises reasonably accepted and why? 9

T HANK YOU ! 10 QUESTIONS…