Discipline Economics
Stage 3
Assessment Activities
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| Assessment Description | In Economics 1, pre- and post-test questions concerning the basic nature of the fractional reserve banking system (Econ 1, Course SLO N) and the role of commercial banks in the creation of money and the role of Federal Reserve System in the U.S. economy and the major tools of monetary policy (Econ 1, Course SLO O) were asked of students in Economics 1 classes. In Economics 3, pre- and post-tests question concerning demand, supply and perfectly competitive markets (Econ 3, Course SLO D) and price elasticity of demand and supply (Econ 3, Course SLO F) were asked of students in Economics 3 classes. In Economics 5, pre- and post-test questions concerning the normal probability distribution (Econ 5, Course SLOs S, T & U) and the principles of probability and their application (Econ 5, Course SLO H) were asked of students in Economics 5 classes. For each course the data was aggregated and analyzed. |
| Learning Outcomes | The Program SLOs addressed by pre- and post-tests conducted in Economics 1 classes are: • PSLO 1: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate basic economic concepts, principles and methods. • PSLO 2: Identify, analyze, apply, compare and evaluate important economic models and theories. • PSLO 3: Identify and analyze important economic problems and issues, and identify and evaluate relevant economic policy alternatives. • PSLO 4: Identify and analyze the historical development of the U.S. economy, important economic institutions and the relationship between economic conditions, developments, institutions and policies and social, cultural and political developments. The Program SLOs addressed by the pre- and post-tests conducted in Economics 3 classes are : • PSLO 1: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate basic economic concepts, principles and methods. • PSLO 2: Identify, analyze, apply, compare and evaluate important economic models and theories. The Program SLO addressed by the pre- and post-tests conducted in Economics 5 classes are : • PSLO 8: Identify, develop, apply and interpret the important concepts and methods of descriptive and inferential statistics relevant for economics, the other social sciences and statistical analysis in general. |
| Number of Courses | 40 |
| Number of Students | 1261 |
Data Analysis
| Data Shared With | Faculty and staff within the same program (at CCSF) |
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| Data Sharing Methods |
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| Data Summary | Concerning the pre- and post-tests administered in Economics 1 and concerning Course SLO N and Program SLOs 1 and 2, in the pre-test 18% of the students answered the questions correctly and on the post test 67% answered the questions correctly. In the pre-test and post-tests administered in Economics 1 and concerning Course SLO 0 and Program SLOs 3 and 4, in the pre-test 30% of the students answered the question correctly and on the post-test 68% answered the question correctly. Concerning the pre- and post-tests administered in Economics 3 and concerning Course SLO D and Program SLOs 1 and 2, on the pre-test 48% of the students answered the questions correctly and on the post-test 75 percent answered the questions correctly. In Economics 3, concerning Course SLO F and Program SLO 2, on the pre-test 24% of the students answered the questions correctly, and on the post test 77 % answered the questions correctly. Concerning the pre- and post-tests administered in Economics 5 concerning Course SLOs S, T & U and Program SLO 8, on the pre-test 17% answered correctly for the first question and 44% answered the other question correctly. Concerning the post-test, 84% answered the first question correctly and 77% answered the second question correctly. Concerning the pre-and post-test questions in Economics 5 concerning Course SLO H and Program SLO8, on the pre-test 11% answered the first question correctly and 18% answered the second question correctly. On the post-test, 75% answered the first question correctly and 55% answered the second question correctly. |
| Data Analysis | Concerning the pre-and post-tests administered in Economics 1 and addressing the Course SLOs N and O and the Program SLOs 1, 2, 3 and 4, involve complex concepts and the level of improvement during the semester was judged to be encouraging. As a result of the results of the assessment of the fall semester, alternative techniques for addressing these topics were tried. The spring results did not very significantly from those obtained in the fall and it was concluded that the techniques being used were adequate in addressing these topics. Concerning the pre- and post tests administered in Economics 3 and addressing Course SLOs D and F and Program SLOs 1 and 2, the level of improvement for both questions between the pre- and post-tests lead to results above the target of 70 percent target. At the end of 2013 faculty discussed the techniques used by the most successful instructor and other instructors applied these techniques with generally positive outcomes in the spring. Concerning Economics 5 the pre- and post-test questions concerning Course SLOs S, T and U and Program SLO 8, using the criteria of at least 70% correct for each question in the post-test, the results confirmed the previous semester’s assessment of satisfactory performance regarding these SLOs. Considering the pre-and post-test results for Economics 5 Course SLO H and Program PLO 8, the post-test result for the first question indicated satisfactory performance. The post-test result for the second question, however, seemed to indicate weakness in the application of the basic laws of probability. It was decided that and new exercise material would be created and used during the Fall semester, and these two related questions will again be used to assess student success concerning this Course SLO and Program SLO. |
| Next Steps Planned | While the above analyses did not lead to any changes to the Program SLOs, the Course Outlines, including Course SLOs, were revised for Economics 1 and Economics 3, and an SLO consolidating three Course SLOs was drafted for inclusion in the next revision of the Course Outline for Economics 5. |
| Learning Outcomes | ALL |
Changes
| Details | The Course Outlines, including the SLOs for Economics 1 and Economics 3 were revised as a result of review and discussion of these outlines by the economics faculty and in order to align the course outlines with the state CID (Course Identification Numbering System) descriptors - including the addition of a mathematics prerequisite for both Economics 1 and Economics 3. Members of the CCSF economics faculty also reviewed of the draft Transfer Model Curriculum being developed for prospective economics majors transferring from a community college to a CSU campus, and submitted comments to the state committee developing the Transfer Model Curriculum. |
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| Learning Outcomes | ALL |
Tentative Future Assessment Plans
| Assessment Term | Fall 2013 |
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| Assessment Activities |
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| Assessment Details | The economics faculty plans to continue to develop and assess the multiple choice questions used for pre- and post-test surveys in Economics 1, Economics 3 and Economics 5, to develop and asses appropriate questions for other Course SLOs related to the Program PLOs, to asses the data generated from the surveys to evaluate student success as it related to the Course and Program SLOs, and to develop course materials and methods for improving student success. In addition, the effectiveness and appropriateness of the revised course outlines for Economics 1 and Economics 3 will be assessed. Also, we expect to further review the Program PLOs in light of the Transfer Model Curriculum being developed for prospective economics majors transferring from a community college to a CSU campus and to develop a economics major to align with this curriculum. |
ILO Alignment and Assessment Plans
| I.A. Use reason and creativity... | • PSLO 1: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate basic economic concepts, principles and methods. • PSLO 2: Identify, analyze, apply, compare and evaluate important economic models and theories. • PSLO 3: Identify and analyze important economic problems and issues, and identify and evaluate relevant economic policy alternatives. • PSLO 5: Identify, analyze and evaluate important historical, cultural, and economic factors in the differing economic activities of people in the United States of different races and ethnicities, and identify, analyze, apply, and evaluate alternative theories and related policy recommendations regarding economic inequality based on race and ethnicity. • PSLO 6: Identify, analyze and evaluate important historical, cultural, and economic factors in the differing economic activities of women in the United States, including women of different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, and identify, analyze, apply, and evaluate alternative theories and related policy recommendations regarding economic inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. • PSLO 7: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate the economic concepts, principles and alternative economic theories of the nature and development of international economic relations, including international trade and finance, considering important institutions and policies affecting international trade and finance. • PSLO 8: Identify, develop, apply and interpret the important concepts and methods of descriptive and inferential statistics relevant for economics, the other social sciences and statistical analysis in general. |
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| I.B. Apply diverse viewpoints... | • PSLO 2: Identify, analyze, apply, compare and evaluate important economic models and theories. • PSLO 3: Identify and analyze important economic problems and issues, and identify and evaluate relevant economic policy alternatives. • PSLO 5: Identify, analyze and evaluate important historical, cultural, and economic factors in the differing economic activities of people in the United States of different races and ethnicities, and identify, analyze, apply, and evaluate alternative theories and related policy recommendations regarding economic inequality based on race and ethnicity. • PSLO 6: Identify, analyze and evaluate important historical, cultural, and economic factors in the differing economic activities of women in the United States, including women of different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, and identify, analyze, apply, and evaluate alternative theories and related policy recommendations regarding economic inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. • PSLO 7: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate the economic concepts, principles and alternative economic theories of the nature and development of international economic relations, including international trade and finance, considering important institutions and policies affecting international trade and finance. |
| I.C. Locate, retrieve, and evaluate information... | • PSLO 1: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate basic economic concepts, principles and methods. • PSLO 2: Identify, analyze, apply, compare and evaluate important economic models and theories. • PSLO 3: Identify and analyze important economic problems and issues, and identify and evaluate relevant economic policy alternatives. • PSLO 4: Identify and analyze the historical development of the U.S. economy, important economic institutions and the relationship between economic conditions, developments, institutions and policies and social, cultural and political developments. • PSLO 5: Identify, analyze and evaluate important historical, cultural, and economic factors in the differing economic activities of people in the United States of different races and ethnicities, and identify, analyze, apply, and evaluate alternative theories and related policy recommendations regarding economic inequality based on race and ethnicity. • PSLO 6: Identify, analyze and evaluate important historical, cultural, and economic factors in the differing economic activities of women in the United States, including women of different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, and identify, analyze, apply, and evaluate alternative theories and related policy recommendations regarding economic inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. • PSLO 7: Identify, analyze, apply and evaluate the economic concepts, principles and alternative economic theories of the nature and development of international economic relations, including international trade and finance, considering important institutions and policies affecting international trade and finance. • PSLO 8: Identify, develop, apply and interpret the important concepts and methods of descriptive and inferential statistics relevant for economics, the other social sciences and statistical analysis in general. |
| Fall 2013 ILO Assessment Plans | Yes we plan to assess one of the above-mapped SLOs in Fall 2013. |
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)