B.A. Communication
Have formal Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) or Student Learning Outcomes (SLOS) been developed?
Yes.
Published where?
Do PLOs include or imply link to Core Competency? (AY 2020-2021: Information Literacy)?
No.
Process of Core Competency Assessment:
Course (400-level)
COM 251 Public Speaking
Assignment
Students will develop a 5- to 8-minute speech which is developed from 3 to 5 reputable academic sources or websites (i.e. newspaper, online peer-reviewed journals). Speeches must be turned in with a bibliography in proper APA format.
Type of Student Artifact
Persuasive speech
Rubric or other instrument
GE Rubric for Information Literacy
Data (measurement of the competency)
Two readers from the department read forty-six (n = 46) speeches. Averages for each category are as follows: Document Conventions (Sect 1, 2.86, Sect. 2, 3.02), Appropriateness of Sources (Sect 1, 2.79, Sect. 2, 3.31), Evaluating Sources (Sect 1, 2.86, Sect. 2, 3.22), and Integrating Sources (Sect 1, 2.97, Sect. 2, 3.16). These averages show that students in this lower-level course are performing near competency.
It is commendable that the readers weigh two different sections. The fact that one section is consistently lower in all categories suggests areas for improvement—this was noted by the reader who reported the following.
The Assessment Committee recommends that for the next Core Competency that upper-division papers be used for assessment.
Action Taken in Response to the Data (What will you do in response to the Findings?)
Upon doing an assessment of a few lower-division courses, one of the readers decided to incorporate more instruction in class on reliable and credible sources. This individual also decided to do a separate assignment with its own assessment devoted only to the use of secondary sources. Prior to this, the teacher only relied on students completing an outline with references. This assessment showed that much more focused feedback on students’ use of resources as opposed to global comments which only targeted the overall presentation was needed.
Date of Last Program Review
2012-2013
See Program Reviews for the College of Arts and Science