Life Sciences Division Assessment

Submitted by Shannon Manuelito on
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What is the Purpose of the Assessment?

Division level assessment for Life Sciences

Describe the necessity for this assessment

The LS divsion implemented a divsion level assessment to learn more about how our program is meeting student needs. 

Describe how the practice will be implemented

A Canvas quiz was created using several biology concept inventories and toolkits. This quiz was distributed to all FT faculty in the LS divsion. The divison decided when each course would take the quiz. The introductory courses would take the quiz in the beginning on the class while the advanced courses were to take the quiz near the end of the class in line with a pre/post concept for the dvision. The quiz was not graded for accuracy, credit for completion was given. 

Interpret, compare, and describe the results

A total of 203 students took the quiz from four different biology course levels. The data show an increase in average score as the course number increases. BIO 100=43.13, BIO 156=48.88, BIO 181=48.96, BIO 202=60.27. There is a considerable difference in scores between BIO 202 and the rest of the courses surveyed.

 

 

 

After analyzing, and reflecting on the outcome, what are the next steps?

All scores are low which is not surprising because the quiz was created with general biology questions, not specfic to any one biology course. Timing, question wording, and quiz implmentation needs to be adjusted for 20/21AY.  Once all details are final, the quiz will then be rolled out to  adjunct faculty. The movement to a remote/online modality inhibited several from deploying the survey. This assessment will enable the LS divsion to measure ongoing LO/goals.

Abstract

The Life Sciences Division created a divsion level assessment. Though some biology courses were not able to complete the assessment due to the COVID19 response, results show an increase in score from lower level biology courses to higher level courses. 

Division/Department
Life Sciences
Completed Full Cycle
Yes
Course Number
BIO 100
BIO 156
BIO 181
BIO 202
Attachment Size
life-sciences-division-assessment.pdf 85.04 KB

Comments

Becky Baranowski Tue, 11/10/2020 - 10:37am

This is absolutely fantastic.  This CATS has been shared with several other divisions about how courses within the division determine how their teaching impacts students from beginning to end.  Some divisions are beginning to look more into this, so thank you for taking the time to document what you are doing. I know with Covid, this has changed a lot with data collection.  I look forward to seeing how your division is using assessment to improve your teaching practices and help students learn.  

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