Unit: Earth Sciences
Program: Geology & Geophysics (BS, BA Geology)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Thu Oct 13, 2011 - 10:29:31 am

1) Below are your program student learning outcomes (SLOs). Please update as needed.

Department of Geology and Geophysics

Undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students can explain the relevance of geology and geophysics to human needs, including those appropriate to Hawaii, and be able to discuss issues related to geology and its impact on society and planet Earth.
  2. Students can apply technical knowledge of relevant computer applications, laboratory methods, field methods, and the supporting disciplines (math, physics, chemistry, biology) to solve real-world problems in geology and geophysics.
  3. Students use the scientific method to define, critically analyze, and solve a problem in earth science.
  4. Students can reconstruct, clearly and ethically, geological knowledge in both oral presentations and written reports.
  5. Students can evaluate, interpret, and summarize the basic principles of geology and geophysics, including the fundamental tenets of the sub-disciplines, and their context in relationship to other core sciences, to explain complex phenomena in geology and geophysics.

2) Your program's SLOs are published as follows. Please update as needed.

Department Website URL: Yes it was up there but website is being revised
Student Handbook. URL, if available online: http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/resources/gg_documents.html
Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online:
UHM Catalog. Page Number:
Course Syllabi. URL, if available online: Yes, but not online
Other:
Other:

3) Below is the link(s) to your program's curriculum map(s). If we do not have your curriculum map, please upload it as a PDF.

Curriculum Map File(s) from 2011:

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) For the period June 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.

The curriculum committee of the Department decided to review all progress so far. They re-examined the curriculum map, and decided on the relevance of each SLO or part thereof to each required course in the degree (spreadsheet uplifted in Qu 3). They then decided to create a questionnaire where all SLOs were targetted,  and this questionnaire was given to most sophomores, juniors and some seniors.

6) State the type(s) of evidence gathered to answer the assessment question and/or meet the assessment goals that were given in Question #5.

In addition to giving a questionnaire to students, faculty have been collecting data and retaining test and exam results for future use.

QUESTIONNAIRE:

Evaluation of Geology and Geophysics overall degree program at this point in meeting our student learning outcome (SLO) objectives.

Please consider all classes, activities, and other learning experiences associated with your major up to this point.  It is not an evaluation of the current class but should include your experiences within the current class. Score each •bulleted item below on a scale of 0 to 3:

0= I’ve had negligible introduction to this topic/concept

1=I’ve been introduced, made aware of, &/or become curious about this topic/concept, but have not done any in-depth analysis or application.

2=The degree program has helped me develop some knowledge and capability though some exploration, analysis, &/or application of topics & concepts. 

3=The degree program has enabled me to gain maturity—including proficiency, thorough knowledge & good judgment—in the topic or concept through in-depth exploration, analysis &/or application

                                    Average of responses

Sophomores (10)

  Juniors (6)                Seniors (2)

1. Students can explain the relevance of geology and geophysics to

•Human needs, including those appropriate to Hawaii,

1.9

2.33                              2.5

• And are able to discuss issues related to geology and its impact on society and planet Earth

2.3

3.00                              3.0

2. Students can apply relevant technical knowledge (listed below) to solve real-world problems in geology and geophysics.  

•Supporting disciplines (math, physics, chemistry, biology)

2.2

2.33                              2.0

•Computer applications

1.8

2.16                              2.5

•Laboratory methods

2.1

3.00                              2.5

•Field methods

2.0

2.33                              2.5

3. Students can effectively use the scientific method in geology & geophysics to:

• Define a problem

2.8

2.83                              2.5

•Critically analyze a problem

2.5

2.83                              2.5

• Solve a problem

2.3

2.33                              2.5

4. Students can clearly reconstruct geological knowledge using

•Oral communication

2.0

2.33                              2.0

• Written communication

2.6

2.00                              2.5

•Sound scientific ethics

2.2

2.16                              2.0

5. Students can evaluate, interpret, and summarize the basic principles of geology and geophysics

•Fundamental tenets of the sub-disciplines (e.g., mineralogy, structural geology, geophysics etc), and

2.2

2.50                              2.5

•Their context in relation to other core sciences

2.2

2.66                              2.0

•To explain complex phenomena in geology and geophysics

2.3

2.83                              2.0

A quesionnaire was given to classes to assess their understanding of how they achieved the SLOs. It is assumed that sophomores would have a lower rating than more senior students. However only two seniors were questioned which gives a somewhat inconclusive result for that uear level.

7) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.

As stated in Qu 6, a questionnaire was given to groups of sophmore (10 people), juniors (6 people) and seniors (2 people).

8) 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:

9) 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: Use of questionnaire as stated above

10) For the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goal(s) stated in Question #5:
Summarize the actual results.

The results of the questionnaire show the expected progression from scores of 0-1 for sophomore, to mainly 2-3 for seniors.

11) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.

THis has not happened yet, but will come up through the curriculum committee

12) Beyond the results, were there additional conclusions or discoveries?
This can include insights about assessment procedures, teaching and learning, program aspects and so on.

N/A

13) Other important information.
Please note: If the program did not engage in assessment, please explain. If the program created an assessment plan for next year, please give an overview.

N/A