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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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