B.A. & B.S. Geology – WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
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 Geology SLOs, Curriculum Matrix, and Rubrics. SLOs are also published in the UH Hilo Student Catalog for Geology.
Do PLOs include or imply link to Core Competency? (AY 2022-2023: Written Communication)?
Yes.
Process of Core Competency Assessment:
Course (300- or 400- level)
GEOL 344 Coastal Geology, Hyflex (Fall 2022)
Type of Student Artifact
Literature review
Assignment:
Critical synthesis of literature for the purpose of systematically describing and analyzing a particular geographic coastline. This report was part of a term project and was worth 10% of the course grade. Students were provided with detailed expectations, detailed advice about the process, and rubrics. They did not have an opportunity to revise their work based on feedback, however.
Rubric or other instrument
Data (measurement of the competency)
Eight (8) 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 promoted throughout the semester. To succeed, students needed to work independently, be persistent, and manage their time.
- Scores given above do not include deductions for late submissions. Even the most diligent students struggled to meet deadlines. This seems to be part of the pandemic hangover.
- Students varied in the amount of effort put forth. Thus, motivation and similar factors affect student performance. For example, an additional round of editing would have improved weak scores for Language/prose/Syntax.
- Five of eight students did outstanding work, one was just above competent, one was just shy of competent, and one student did not meet competency.
- Among the five seniors, three produced outstanding work, one was just shy of competent, and one did not meet competency.
- High scores for organization and structure reflect compliance with explicit instructions for organization. Some of the low scores reflect failure to follow instructions.
Action Taken in Response to the Data (What will you do in response to the Findings?)
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- Overall high performance suggests that the combination of the general education program and the geology program is effective at training students to write reports that include a literature search and critical analysis. The high level of scholarship among the top-performing students suggests a culture of high expectations, at least for high-profile, high-stakes assignments. Some of the high-performing students were motivated by the desire for an “A”.
- Not all students are performing at a high level. The student with the lowest score did not follow instructions. Perhaps the low score will serve as a lesson.
- The highly structured nature of the assignment is intended to teach students how to do a certain type of research and a certain type of writing. This seems to be successful and there are no plans to change the assignment in the future.
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- In summary, no changes to our courses or program are needed, as far as writing goes.
Date of Last Program Review
Geology was reviewed in 2021-2022.