Have formal Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) or Student Learning Outcomes (SLOS) been developed?
Yes.
Published where? (website)
See Kinesiology’s SLOs, Curriculum Matrix, and Rubrics. SLOs are also published in the UH Hilo Student Catalog for Linguistics.
Do PLOs include or imply link to Core Competency? (AY 2022-2023: Written Communication)?
No
Process of Core Competency Assessment:
Course (300- or 400- level)
KES 371 WI/Indigenous Health and Wellness
Type of Student Artifact
Research Paper
Assignment
A ten-to-twelve-page research-paper on students’ own genealogy and relationship to indigenous health and well-being. Minimum of five sources, which can include any of the following: review of documents, newspapers articles, personal interviews, mo’olelo, archives, book chapters and peer reviewed/ academic journal articles. APA style. Needs to include the following sections: (1) Introduction and a clear thesis, (2) Review of Literature, (3) body paragraphs that support thesis, (4) conclusion which is a summary of key points, and (5) References.
Rubric or other instrument
GE Rubric for Written Communication and Rubric for Writing Intensive
Data (measurement of the competency)
Four readers external to the department served as evaluators and read sixteen papers using the Written Communication Rubric (WC) and the Writing Intensive Rubric (WI). However as one paper was not accessible (probably due to a corrupted file), scores are only for fifteen (n = 15) papers.
Overall, readers noted that the conceptualization of the health and wellness topic through the lens of personal ethnic backgrounds and genealogy is commended for its use of regional specificity (which in turn makes it somewhat difficult for student to plagiarize and usually encourages deeper learning of a subject). However, the personal nature of the assignment did seem to trigger the use of more colloquial if not conversational prose in some papers, and as a result some also showed problems with line of argument and grammar. In the future, it may be helpful to offer a sample writing to elicit the level of academic prose desired by the program of its majors; the instructor can also solicit assistance from Kilohana’s writing center.
Scoring follows.
Action Taken in Response to the Data (What will you do in response to the Findings?)
The department recognizes the challenge of writing a paper that is a personal story, which includes personal lived-experience and researched topics concerning indigenous health and wellness. To improve the quality of writing, students will be given specific instruction on how to combine writing about their personal genealogy with analytic writing about aspects of indigenous health and wellness. Furthermore, students will be provided with a sample of well-written academic prose to support them in the completion of their assignment.
Date of Last Program Review
NA