Have formal Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) or Student Learning Outcomes (SLOS) been developed?
YES, “Goals for Student Learning in the Major”
Published where? (website)
See Natural Science SLOs, Curriculum Matrix, and Rubrics. SLOs are also published in the UH Hilo Student Catalog for Natural Science.
Do PLOs include or imply link to Core Competency? (AY 2022-2023: Written Communication)?
Yes.
Process of Core Competency Assessment:
Course (400- level)
NSCI 476 Communicating Science (3) Introduction to theory and practice of communicating science to general audiences, focusing on adults but including teens and children. Pre: Senior standing and six credits from upper division courses in ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, ENSC, GEOL, MARE, or PHYS. This is a capstone course for Natural Science. For AY 2022-2023, this course was taught online.
Type of Student Artifact
Final Term Paper
Assignment:
A paper on a societally relevant science topic, written for a general adult audience, was worth 40% of the course grade. Expectations for scholarship, audience analysis, and writing were high. Students received mentoring throughout the semester and feedback on a draft.
Rubric or other instrument
Written Communication Rubric
Data (measurement of the competency)
Two (2) papers were read by two geology faculty using the Written Communication Rubric and scored on a 1-4 scale (1=beginning, 2=emerging, 3=competent, 4=advanced). Scores from reader #1 and reader #2 were averaged. The course contained both NSCI majors and students from other majors. Papers written by non-majors were not scored.
Comments by Evaluators:
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- The report is part of a term project that was the main focus of the class. To succeed, students needed to work independently, be persistent, and manage their time.
- Course content included training in the process of researching, developing content, analyzing the audience, writing a draft, and editing. These aspects of the course appear to have paid off in terms of ensuring skill development.
- One student did outstanding work and the other was competent. This is gratifying.
Action Taken in Response to the Data (What will you do in response to the Findings?)
The combination of the general education program and the natural science program appear to be successful, as far as writing goes. This is based on a small sample size, however. No changes to the program are indicated.
Date of Last Program Review
Natural Science was included in Geology’s program review of 2021-2022.