Unit: Earth Sciences
Program: Geology & Geophysics (BS, BA Geology)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Thu Nov 15, 2012 - 10:40:06 am

1) Below are your program's 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 knowledge base, theory, laboratory methods, field methods, computer applications 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) Select one option:

Curriculum Map File(s) from 2012:

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, 2011 and September 30, 2012? (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 June 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.

For a second year in a row, undergraduate students were asked to respond to an assessment questionnaire. Seventeen students rcompleted the 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

Score 1

 Score 2                      Score 3

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

•Human needs, including those appropriate to Hawaii,

1

4                                        12

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

0

4                                        13

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

5                                         8

•Computer applications

2

8                                         7

•Laboratory methods

2

5                                        10

•Field methods

3

2                                        10

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

• Define a problem

1

4                                        12

•Critically analyze a problem

1

5                                        11

• Solve a problem

2

4                                        11

4. Students can clearly reconstruct geological knowledge using

•Oral communication

0

3                                         12

• Written communication

1

6                                         10

•Sound scientific ethics

0

6                                         10

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

3

5                                           9

•Their context in relation to other core sciences

2

8                                           7

•To explain complex phenomena in geology and geophysics

0

6                                           10

Some students added that though they were getting the tools they were getting less actual real world experience. Concepts were greatly emphasized sometimes at the expense of proficiency in methods.

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.

Stated above

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

Seventeen undergraduate students responded - this also insured there were no duplication of responses

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: Person responsible for assessment reports

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: Used questionnaire as shown above

11) For the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goal(s) stated in Question #6:
Summarize the actual results.

Responses indicated that the majority of respondees felt that the SLOs were being met through the classes they had taken since coming intothe GG program.

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

Results will be given to the GG departmental curriculum committee to evaluate and make any adjustments to the current program.

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.

No

14) If the program did not engage in assessment activities, please explain.
Or, if the program did engage in assessment activities, please add any other important information here.

For the past year the curriculum committee were focussed on other areas of work.