Assessing Critical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning in MA 103 Gerald Kruse, PhD. Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Juniata College Huntingdon, PA

A Wise Man Once Said… "I know this isn't true about your faculty," he said to chuckles from the audience, but "a lot of our faculty... aren't wild about assessment. It makes the hair go up on the back of their necks." "I have to persuade them that the CLA has meaning," he said.

A Wise Man Once Said… "I know this isn't true about your faculty," he said to chuckles from the audience, but "a lot of our faculty... aren't wild about assessment. It makes the hair go up on the back of their necks." "I have to persuade them that the CLA has meaning," he said. Provost Jim Lakso, August 4,

Pipeline Faculty Checklist. 28. Cite your Provost in a SoTL Lunch Discussion (see #29).

Pipeline Faculty Checklist. 28. Cite your Provost in a SoTL Lunch Discussion (see #29). 29. When citing your Provost in a SoTL Lunch Discussion, make sure he is not attending an Executive Committee Meeting instead.

Big Picture Close-up on one “CLA-like” project Input? Feedback? Under Construction…

MA 103, Quantitative Methods, aka “QM” “Mathematics 103 prepares students to be quantitatively literate citizens in today's world. By learning to think critically about quantitative issues, students will be able to make responsible decisions in their daily lives. Problems are analyzed and solved using numerical, graphical, statistical, and algebraic reasoning. Technology is used to help visualize data and facilitate calculations, as well as to present quantitative output and verbal arguments. ” Collegiate Learning Assessment, (CLA), Performance Task Goals “ Critical Thinking, Analytic Reasoning, and Problem Solving “Written Communication” *I am aware we could make this linkage for most classes… Big Picture

Leveraging “Existing Frameworks” Currently in MA 103: Quantitative Skills Assessment Pre and Post (first and last day of semester, does not count toward final grade) Quantitative Attitudes Survey Pre and Post (first and last day of semester) Daily Activities and 3 Open-ended Projects

Modifying MA 103 to Assess Improvements in Quantitative Reasoning/Critical Thinking (Warning: This is a work in-progress!) Use a “CLA-like” performance task as a pre and post assessment Construct Projects 01, 02, and 03 using CLA guidelines Is performance better on the post- assessment?

Timing and $ precluded licensing and adaptation of “retired” CLA performance task for pre/post assessment this semester Just not enough time to do it properly… Timing and $ precluded licensing and adaptation of “retired” CLA performance task for pre/post assessment this semester Just not enough time to do it properly… Implemented a “CLA-like” Project 01 See for yourself… Too much fun Names, writing in character…

MA 103, Project 02 Keep our character Keep our character Analyze loans, loan table, interest, etc… (a component in previous Projects) Write a letter to parents describing desire to switch from ESS to finance or accounting, hope to test web-site evaluation skills