Program: Physics (BA, BS)
Degree: Bachelor's
Date: Tue Oct 08, 2013 - 4:53:48 pm
1) Below are your program's student learning outcomes (SLOs). Please update as needed.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
[1] Apply basic physical principles from a broad range of topics in physics to diverse scientific and technological problems
[2] Be able to formulate scientific problems in mathematical terms and apply analytical and numerical methods towards its solution
[3] Develop skills to design experiments and analyze data through electronic instrumentation and devices, and computer control
[4] Establish competence in focused areas of physical theory and experiment
[5] Generate fluency of the scientific enterprise and awareness of possible career paths available to the undergraduate physics major
Student learning outcomes for individual courses are described in course syllabi found on the departmental web site:
http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/
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:
- 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, 2012 and September 30, 2013? (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, 2012 to September 30, 2013: State the assessment question(s) and/or assessment goals. Include the SLOs that were targeted, if applicable.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT SURVEY
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The following statements are the Learning Outcomes of the Undergraduate Physics Program. Circle one of the possible answers below each statement to indicate if you agree that this outcome was achieved.
[1] Apply basic physical principles from a broad range of topics in physics to diverse scientific and technological problems
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
[2] Be able to formulate scientific problems in mathematical terms and apply analytical and numerical methods towards its solutions
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
[3] Develop skills to design experiments and analyze data through electronic instrumentation and devices, and computer control
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
[4] Establish competence in focused areas of physical theory and experiment
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
[5] Generate fluency in the scientific enterprise and awareness of possible career paths available to the undergraduate physics major
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
OPTIONAL COMMENTS
Use the space below (and on the back side of this page) for written comments you may have concerning the Undergraduate Physics Program. Your comments should not be an evaluation of particular courses or instructors, rather, an assessment of the program as embodied in the above statements of Learning Outcomes of the Undergraduate Physics Program
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.
The survey in question #6 was emailed to the 6 undergraduate students who earned their BA or BS Physics degree during AY 2012-2013. Previously, a similar survey was sent to the 7 undergraduate students who earned their BA or BS Physics degree during AY 2011-2012. Responses were gathered and compiled anonymously by a department secretary.
8) State how many persons submitted evidence that was evaluated. If applicable, please include the sampling technique used.
Of the 13 surveys sent out during AY 2011-2013, 1 has been returned as of Sept. 19, 2013.
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.
Note, this graph summarizes the results of 3 survey repsonses. There were additional written comments. In summary, the comments suggest that, 1) the program provide better mathematical preparation for upper-level physics courses, and 2) the program provide better guidance and preparation for students planning on attending graduate school.
12) State how the program used the results or plans to use the results. Please be specific.
The Assessment Committee will report on these results to the Undergraduate Program Advisory Committee and to the department chair. The UPAC will then advise the department chair and faculty on the best way to improve the practices of the department, in light of this assessment.
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.
Our surveys were administered by emailing a PDF file of the survey to recent graduates. We have concluded that: 1) in the future, we plan to administer the surveys through an online form, which will be easier to fill out and submit. 2) in the future, we will administer surveys to current physics students (not just recent graduates) periodically throughout their undergraduate career.