IN250 US Studies Assessment Plan
Coordinator of US Studies for 2007-2008: Dr. Larry Troy, Professor of Sociology
Learning Outcome Goals
By the end of IN250 U.S. Studies, students will be able to
- Critically respond to texts by or about some of the diverse cultures and people living in the United States;
- Use discipline-appropriate sources to inform their critical analyses of diverse individuals’ or cultures’ experiences and perspectives; and
- Write at least one well-developed critical analysis about cultural, structural, or institutional issues specific to the discipline of the course.
Snapshot/Overview
The assessment plan describes courses taught and by whom. Syllabi audits and assignment reviews are conducted to assess the IN250 program.
Learning Story
In all sections of IN250, students learn about the experiences and perspectives of some of the diverse cultures and people living in the United States. Courses may focus on particular groups (African Americans, women) or particular issues (poverty and welfare, Vietnam, Civil Rights, Watergate), but all faculty are committed to inculcating in their students sensitivity and empathy, as well as sharper critical thinking and writing skills. In all sections, students use discipline-specific sources in their writing, which ranges from the formal essay to informal discussion threads in Blackboard. Competencies that promote professional success and understanding of others are emphasized (as per MPSL prepares 1 and 2).
Assessment Methods
Student learning in IN250 will be assessed in the following ways:
- 20% of students’ writing will be taken randomly from each IN250 section and reviewed for how well the students comprehend the reading assignments, use sources, and compose essays.
- A rubric is used to evaluate student performance on each learning goal.
Analysis of Assessment Results
The 2006-07 IN250 courses met the following goals at these rates and with these performance indicators:
- Critical response: 85%--excellent/green light—on the right track
- Use of sources: 82.5%--still strong, but faculty might be advised to submit artifacts that show research more clearly
- Well-developed analysis: 61.25%--nominal/red light—faculty might be advised to pay more attention to writing; students could and should be encouraged to use the Writing Center more often
Improvement Plans
A report on the IN250 program will be shared with IN250 faculty, department chairs, and deans.
The 2006-2007 IN250 Assessment Committee offers the following suggestions:
- Increase faculty participation, not only in course design and mission, but also in data collection.
- Increase profile of research projects in data collection.
- Increase intentionality with respect to writing, perhaps following a Writing-Across-the-Curriculum model.
- Continue to assess and revise goals and rubrics.
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