PHYC 4AL: Physics Laboratory for Scientists and Engineers
Stage 5
Jill Johnsen

Basic Information

Number of Outcomes7
Number of Outcomes Assessed3
Assessment FrequencyEvery semester
Analysis FrequencyEvery semester
Detail LinkLink

Course Information

Number of Course Sections7
Number of Instructors5

Assessment Methods

MethodsTwo questions were included on all instructors’ first exam to kick off our Fall 2013 SLO assessment. A vernier caliper measurement, and an uncertainty calculation.

The first question, measurement with the micrometer calipers, requires the student to report the value to the correct decimal place and the correct uncertainty provided the table of uncertainty values. For example:

Use the vernier calipers to measure the diameter of the cylinder.

d = ________  ________

This question addresses SLOs A, B, and C.

The second question was an uncertainty calculation. For example:

given x = 3.20 ± 0.42 cm and y = 12.4 ± 1.2 cm calculate b = 3y/x^2 along with its uncertainty.

b = ________  ________

This question addresses SLO C.

Instructors were welcome to change the numbers or edit the questions to match their exam format.

We developed a grading rubric on an excel spreadsheet to help us asses the SLO questions from Exam 1.

Future Plans

TermSpring 2014
ActivitiesRevision of outcomes and assessment methods (measurements), Assessment (measurement) of outcomes, Analysis and discussion of assessment data and next steps
DetailsWe plan to revise our assessment methods to assess the remaining SLOs in Spring 2014. and analyze the results from our Fall 2013 assessment.
HighlightsNo answer

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