OCAN 1 - Oceanography - Stage 5 - Katryn Wiese
Assessment
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| Assessment Description | End-of-semester exams cover 15 questions related to a variety of course SLOs. These exams are multiple choice and given to all sections on the same day as the final exam (prior to taking the final). In addition, each instructor gathers satisfaction survey data from students at the end of the course to generate ideas and areas for improvement. |
| Learning Outcomes | ALL |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Number of Instructors | 3 |
| Number of Students | 90 |
Data Analysis
| Data Shared With |
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| Data Sharing Methods |
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| Data Summary | From Fall 2012: 15 questions related to all the course SLOs -- 3 sections. Satisfactory = significant majority of students answer this question correctly. Q1: Hawaiian Volcanism -- Satisfactory in 2/3 sections. In 1 section, no majority -- two answers received equal votes. Q2: Ocean crust age -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q3: Early atmospheric composition -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q4: Average depth of oceans -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q5: Average size of deep-sea sediment -- Satisfactory in 2/3 sections. In 1 section, no majority -- two answers received equal votes. Q6: Limiting factors in biological productivity -- Satisfactory in 1 section. Majority in 2 sections were correct, but not a significant enough majority. Q7: Result of adding more CO2 to oceans -- Satisfactory in 2/3 sections. In 1 section, answers were distributed across all possible choices -- highest number going to wrong answer. Q8: Deep ocean water sources -- Satisfactory in 1 section. In 1 section, no majority -- two answers received equal votes. In 1 section, answers were distributed across all possible choices -- highest number going to wrong answer. Q9: Hurricanes -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q10: Swell -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q11: Tsunami -- Satisfactory in 2 sections. In 1 section, answers were distributed across all possible choices -- highest number going to wrong answer. Q12: Tides -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q13: Bioaccumulation and mercury -- Satisfactory in 2 sections. In 1 section, no majority -- two answers received equal votes. Q14: Primary productivity: organisms responsible -- Satisfactory in all sections. Q15: Density -- Satisfacotry in all sections. |
| Analysis Summary | In areas where the majority of students did NOT answer the questions correctly for only 1 or 2 of the 3 sections, the instructor(s) of the section(s) that did well shared their activities and methods with the others. Collaborative discussions gave new ideas (see below). The density data is much better than all previous semesters demonstrating that our efforts to work on this area (based on previous SLO results) has made a positive impact! |
| Next Steps Planned | We would like to do a better job of embedding core SLO content throughout the semester in multiple units, specifically those that cause problems. For example, productivity (nutrient levels and thermoclines) could be part of multiple chapter discussions and shouldn't wait until the end for its first introduction. We decided that personal stories might make the Tsunami section more memorable for students. For productivity and limiting factors, we considered making a productivity game for students to play. For bioaccumulation, we decided to include information in our lectures on mercury case studies from South San Francisco Bay (Guadalupe River). |
| Learning Outcomes | ALL, but specifically: Examine and illustrate the origin and foundations of life in the oceans, including ... nutrients, nutrient and energy cycling.... Analyze and assess the origin, interactions, and effects of waves, tides, and currents. Analyze and evaluate the interdependence of the biological, physical, and chemical process of the oceans. |
Changes
| Details | More deeply embedded use of iClickers across all courses. Completed online tutorials available freely online (no password access) to all students of all sections. Used new bioaccumulation/mercury case study slides developed by Professor Kuwabara. |
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| Learning Outcomes | ALL |
GE Area C Details
| Learning Outcomes | B. Apply the plate tectonics theory to the origin, evolution, and features of ocean basins. |
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| Number Students: Proficient | 32 |
| Number Students: Developing | 30 |
| Number Students: No Evidence | 8 |
| Criteria | Two end-of-semester SLO exam questions pertained to the above SLO. If students answered both correctly, they were deemed PROFICIENT. If one, but not the other, DEVELOPING. If neither, NO EVIDENCE. |
| Extra Details | The average % correct for either question was 68%. For question 1, it ranged from 38% correct in one section to 94% correct in another section. For question 2, answers ranged from 50% (in the same section that got 94% correct on Q1) to 82% (in section that scored first question at 38%). Clearly we have a lot of variation within individual sections on these two questions. Also, the questions do not guarantee critical thinking -- some students might have simply memorized the answer. We could develop better assessments for this SLO. Note: students who failed to show for the final but are still on the books were not recorded in these data. |
Tentative Future Plans
| Term | Fall 2013 |
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| Activities |
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| More Details | We will be revising our assessment methods to align with those happening for the coordinated ILO 1 assessment. We will be refining our course outcomes through the curriculum committee. We will be analyzing data gathered this Spring and discussing it as a group. We will be changing the textbook (and its relative use) and using iClickers purchased by the department, thus relieving students of costs as well ensuring all students have access to iClickers at all times. |
SLO Details Storage Location
- HARD COPY - In my personal filing system (my office)
- ELECTRONIC COPY - In my electronic filing system (hard drive or web server)