Trevecca Nazarene University

 Why have a General Education curriculum?  How is General Education assessed?  What were the results of last year’s assessment?

 General Education Curriculum ◦ Develop skills for life-long learning

 General Education Curriculum ◦ Develop skills for life-long learning ◦ Expand the learner’s worldview

 General Education Curriculum ◦ Develop skills for life-long learning ◦ Expand the learner’s worldview ◦ Locate the Major within human knowledge Major/Minor General Education Body of Knowledge

Institutional Educational Goals General Education Outcomes Institutional Educational Goals 1. Leadership, Service 2. Disciplined reflection 3. Factors shaping civilization 4. Appreciates global diversity 5. Write, speak, use technology 6. Think critically 7. Engenders wholeness 8. Productive influence General Education Outcomes 1. speak, write 2. Holy Bible 3. Wesleyan-Holiness tradition 4. Systematic problem-solver 5. Global civilization 6. Modes of thinking 7. Christian faith and knowledge 8. Cultural diversity 9. Stewards of resources

 Outcomes Assessment Cycle

 Third-party standardized test ◦ Norm-referenced: 32 doctoral/research universities ◦ Criterion-referenced: skills, content  Multiple and varied approaches ◦ Self-generated content questions ◦ Self-generated survey questions ◦ Samples of student work

 ETS-Proficiency Profile ◦ Measures 4 skills:  Critical Thinking  Reading  Writing  Mathematics ◦ In 3 contexts:  Humanities  Social Science  Natural Science Humanities Social Science Natural Science

 Norm-referenced: Seniors; 301institutions of all types ◦ TNU Total Score: 47 th percentile (n=235) CohortPercentile Traditional63 Non-traditional20 Combined47

 Norm-referenced: Seniors; 32 doctoral/research univ. ◦ TNU Total Score: 27 th percentile (n=235) CohortPercentile Traditional42 Non-traditional17 Combined27

Met or exceeded the criterion for 4 of 8 assessment measures Complete report:

 1: …demonstrate competency in oral and written communication exhibiting an awareness of content, purpose, and audience while accurately using Standard English (written). ◦ Goal: 4.5 average score for all papers ◦ Actual mean: 4.44%

 4: …will use the scientific method, scientific inquiry, and perform basic mathematical and statistical tasks to analyze and solve problems.  Two measures were used ◦ ETS PP Natural Sciences context score ◦ ETS PP Mathematics skill score ◦ Goal: 67 th percentile for each area ◦ Actual: Natural Sciences, 80 th (met) Mathematics, 60 th (not met) CohortNtl SciMath Traditional8060 Non-Trad5623 Combined8060

 6: …demonstrate an understanding and practice of various intellectual modes of thinking.  Two measures were used ◦ Science Lab report score (met) ◦ ETS PP Critical Thinking competency: 15% will score “proficient” and 25% will score “marginally proficient” ◦ Actual: 4% proficient, 28% marginally proficient (not met) ◦ Affinity group: (8% proficient, 20% marginally proficient) (Norm-reference: 34 th percentile) CohortProficientMarginally Proficient Traditional5%29% Non-trad.1%25% Combined4%28%

Criterion measures

 8: …demonstrate an understanding of cultural diversity with a capacity to positively engage others.  Three question were asked ◦ Q1…value perspectives different than mine ◦ Q2…comfortable socializing with (different) ethnic groups ◦ Q3…understand cultures outside USA ◦ Goal: 80% will agree/strongly agree Q1 IdeasQ2 SocialQ3 Cultures Agree/St. Agree68%42%41%

 Norm-referenced: Seniors/all institution types ◦ Critical Thinking: 34 th (95% c.i.: 20-54) ◦ Reading: 47 th (95% c.i.: 30-71) ◦ Writing: 58 th (95% c.i.: 58-94) ◦ Mathematics: 33 rd (95% c.i.: 17-52)

 Norm-referenced: Seniors/all institution types ◦ Humanities: 33 rd (95% c.i.: 18-59) ◦ Social Sciences: 22 nd (95% c.i.: 22-66) ◦ Natural Sciences: 50 th (95% c.i.: 27-75)

 Criterion –referenced classifications SkillClassification ProficientMarginalNot Proficient Reading 169%20%11% Reading 244%16%40% Critical Thinking4%28%68% Writing 177%17%7% Writing 223%44%33% Writing 39%37%54% Math 152%29%19% Math 226%27%47% Math 36%14%81%

 Criterion –referenced classifications SkillClassification ProficientMarginalNot Proficient Reading 169%70%20%17%11%13% Reading 244%42%16%19%40%39% Critical Thinking4% 8%28%20%68%71% Writing 177%66%17%25%7% 9% Writing 223%22%44%37%33%41% Writing 39% 37%28%54%63% Math 152%59%29%23%19% Math 226%33%27%25%47%42% Math 36%10%14%18%81%72%

 Combining traditional and non-traditional student scores will affect assessment results  Emphasize mathematical concepts across the curriculum  Embrace diversity—ethnic, cultural, and ideological—and help students respond and reflect in Christ-like ways  Will UR-QEP improve critical thinking skill?

Excellence Good Enough Indifference PastPresentFuture

Discussion