Critical Thinking (2012-2018)
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Recognize Assumptions
Goal - 75%
Recognize Values
Goal - 75%
Assess Arguments
Goal - 75%
Develop Counter Argument
Goal - 75%
Faculty discussed the following actions in order to improve student learning:
- Practice more on the fundamental skills in class and in homework
- Ensure the assignment is aligned with the rubric criteria
- Help students identify what pieces of their argument are most important and the power of each (begin with the strongest points, and not jump to a weak/insignificant point right after that) – have a logical thread in their argument.
Quantitative Reasoning (2021)
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Snapshot Overview: To view the full Quantitative Reasoning Infographic, click the snapshot below.
View Quantitative Reasoning Trend Data
Quantitative Reasoning Trend Data (2011-2017)
Identify Problem
Goal - 75%
Determine Strategy
Goal - 75%
Implement Strategy
Goal - 75%
Reflection on Results
Goal - 75%
Faculty discussed the following:
- Students performed best on understanding the problem
- Students struggled with reflection, although some assignments did not specifically ask students to reflect
- Results are consistent with faculty expectations
- The downward trend occurring may be related to the assignments not being as well aligned to the rubric as past years
- Consider having a common question for all assignments
- Encourage students to use resources provided in class for checking the reasonableness of results
- Have faculty model how to determine whether answers are reasonably correct
- Discuss with students the idea of the growth mindset by introducing meta-cognitive thinking exercises
Oral Communication (2014-2017)
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Arrangement of Ideas
Goal - 75%
Voice Projection
Goal - 75%
Non-Verbal Communication
Goal - 75%
Faculty discussed the following:
- The results indicate that students performed best on content, arrangement of ideas and vocal projection
- Since 2014, student skills in content, arrangement, and eye contact increased
- Skills in projection, delivery, pace, and nonverbal communication decreased
- Consider incorporating exercises to help students be more comfortable with public speaking, so that students appear to be talking about the topic rather than reading a document
- Also consider having students evaluate each other through peer evaluations
Written Communication (2011-2015)
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Faculty discussed the following:
- Students appear to be having difficulty with organization, style and mechanics
- Students need greater skills at editing and proofreading their work prior to submitting
- Students also struggle with formulating a clear central idea (thesis), which affects organization
- Since 2011, the overall results have improved
- Faculty should use more formal pieces of writing for this assessment (e.g. essays)
- Department should consider creating a separate, mandatory, college-level grammar class to be taken by all students prior to ENG 1A/B
