Unit: Physics & Astronomy
Program: Physics (BA, BS)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Wed Sep 03, 2014 - 2:11:27 pm
Program: Physics (BA, BS)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Wed Sep 03, 2014 - 2:11:27 pm
1) Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs) and Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
1. [1] Apply basic physical principles from a broad range of topics in physics to diverse scientific and technological problems
(1a. General education, 2a. Think critically and creatively, 2b. Conduct research, 3d. Civic participation)
2. [2] Be able to formulate scientific problems in mathematical terms and apply analytical and numerical methods towards its solution
(1a. General education, 2a. Think critically and creatively, 2b. Conduct research, 3d. Civic participation)
3. [3] Develop skills to design experiments and analyze data through electronic instrumentation and devices, and computer control
(1b. Specialized study in an academic field, 2a. Think critically and creatively, 2b. Conduct research)
4. [4] Establish competence in focused areas of physical theory and experiment
(1b. Specialized study in an academic field, 2a. Think critically and creatively, 2b. Conduct research)
5. [5] Generate fluency in the scientific enterprise and awareness of possible career paths available to the undergraduate physics major
(2c. Communicate and report, 3a. Continuous learning and personal growth, 3d. Civic participation)
2) Your program's SLOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.
Department Website URL: http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/
Student Handbook. URL, if available online: Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online: UHM Catalog. Page Number: Course Syllabi. URL, if available online: http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/ Other: Other: 3) Select one option:
Curriculum Map File(s) from 2014:
- File (03/16/2020)
4) For your program, the percentage of courses that have course SLOs explicitly stated on the syllabus, a website, or other publicly available document is as follows. Please update as needed.
0%
1-50% 51-80% 81-99% 100%5) Did your program engage in any program assessment activities between June 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014? (e.g., establishing/revising outcomes, aligning the curriculum to outcomes, collecting evidence, interpreting evidence, using results, revising the assessment plan, creating surveys or tests, etc.)
Yes No (skip to question 14)6) For the period between June 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.
The assessment questions provided to lower division undergraduates in the physics program may be found at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hdogcvgbjzt69qb/140410_undergrad_lower.pdf?dl=0
The assessment questions provided to upper division undergraduates in the physics program may be found at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rgnv9nj297bwbnf/140410_undergrad_upper.pdf?dl=0
7) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #6.
These surveys were administered to the undergraduate students (both lower division and upper divsion) using Survey Monkey. The completed survey results were then compiled.
8) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.
26 (out of 58) students submitted evidence which was evaluated. These students were referred to a website application where they could fill out a survey. Lower division and upper division students were given different surveys, tailored to the appropriate level of progress through the program.
9) Who interpreted or analyzed the evidence that was collected? (Check all that apply.)
Course instructor(s) Faculty committee Ad hoc faculty group Department chairperson Persons or organization outside the university Faculty advisor Advisors (in student support services) Students (graduate or undergraduate) Dean/Director Other: 10) How did they evaluate, analyze, or interpret the evidence? (Check all that apply.)
Used a rubric or scoring guide Scored exams/tests/quizzes Used professional judgment (no rubric or scoring guide used) Compiled survey results Used qualitative methods on interview, focus group, open-ended response data External organization/person analyzed data (e.g., external organization administered and scored the nursing licensing exam) Other: 11) For the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goal(s) stated in Question #6:
Summarize the actual results.
The assessment results for both the undergraduate and graduate physics programs are summarized in the following report:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0zorhuscufs18nc/140806_program_assessment.pdf?dl=0
The following appendix includes the detailed survey responses:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fnxhn3bkmbnd64u/140806_program_assessment_appendix.pdf?dl=0
12) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.
The assessment results have been forwarded to the department chair and the Undergraduate Program Advisory Committee. They will use thes results as guidance in determining ways in which the department can better achieve its student learning outcomes.
13) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries?
This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, program aspects and so on.
This is the first year in which assessment surveys were conducted using a survey website application, as opposed to emailing surveys which then must be emailed back. This new method has produced a much higher response rate, and will be continued. Also, this is the first year in which we have surveyed all students, not only those who have just completed the program. This information will allow the department to assess its progress in achieving student learning outcomes throughout the academic trajectory of a student.