STUDENT OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCE
Bachelor of Arts: Earth Science Teaching Major
I.
Departmental Philosophy of Student Outcomes Assessment
The B.A. Earth Science Major-Teaching is designed to prepare secondary earth science
teachers. This program requires course work in Astronomy, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology,
Physics, and Science Education. In addition, students in this program are required to complete
a 32 semester hour sequence in Professional Education, including a successful student teaching
experience. Majors in this program must have an overall GPA of 2.50 and a cumulative UNI
GPA of 2.50.
The Assessment Plan for the Bachelor of Arts: Earth Science Teaching Major is based
on the primary purpose of generating information which will be useful for enhancing student
learning and program development. We believe the major in Earth Science Teaching should
require study that develops the prospective teacher’s ability to view and present Earth Science
as an interdisciplinary science involving the study of the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere,
space and their relationships to humans and their environment. To this end, we are focused on
four interrelated goals. First, we believe that it is critical for our students to establish a basic
background in the supporting sciences and mathematics. The Earth Sciences are becoming
increasingly more quantitative and our students must give special attention to developing
quantitative and analytical skills. Therefore, the program requires the study of Mathematics
through pre-Calculus and a minimum of 16 semester hours of study in Chemistry and Physics.
Second, our students must master a broad understanding of the various disciplines in the field
of Earth Science in order to become competent professionals in today’s society. This requires
the completion and understanding of a minimum of 28 semester hours of study in the Earth
Sciences including Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology and Oceanography. Third, our students
must be prepared to apply their Earth Science knowledge to new situations and to engage in
independent work, data synthesis, and problem solving. The required courses in other science
areas, Science Education, and Earth Science require study and experiences assuring a mastery
of techniques and strategies for using the local environment as a teaching/learning laboratory
and competency for doing field and in-school laboratory demonstrations, experimentation, and
research. Opportunities for these applications are found in upper division courses, as well as
student teaching. Fourth, Earth Science knowledge as applied to any situation must be
communicated clearly to be understood and to be useful. Hence, we give special attention to
written and oral communication by our students.
The Bachelor of Arts: Earth Science Teaching Major combines a set of core
requirements (Earth Sciences, related sciences, and Mathematics) with general University
requirements and electives. In order to allow flexibility in our assessment procedure, we have
selected student portfolios and surveys as major components of our Assessment Plan. Our
Assessment Plan incorporates those students outcomes and assessment methods that will tell us
most directly how well our curriculum and program structures are responding to the four goals
stated above. The Assessment Plan for the BA: Earth Science Teaching Major was reviewed
by student representatives from the Department of Earth Science.
II.
Outcomes and Competencies
Outcome 1 Students shall become familiar with basic principles from mathematics
and other sciences and of the relationship of these principles to the
solutions of problems within the Earth Science disciplines.
Competency 1.1
Application of basic mathematical concepts through the
level of pre-Calculus.
Competency 1.2
Application of the basic principles of chemistry through
the level of General Chemistry II.
Competency 1.3
Application of the basic principles of physics through the
level of General Physics II.
Competency 1.4
Application of the above competencies in required and
elective upper-division courses in the Earth Sciences.
Outcome 2 Students shall become familiar with the basic principles of the
disciplines in the Earth Sciences.
Competency 2.1
Develop an understanding of the broad discipline of Earth
Science and its major subfields.
Competency 2.2
Application of the major principles in Astronomy,
including understanding the development of the science
of astronomy and its impact on humanity.
Competency 2.3
Application of the major principles of Meteorology,
including weather forecasting and the interpretation of
weather maps and weather data.
Competency 2.4
Application of the major principles of Geology, including
Physical Geology and Earth History.
Competency 2.5
Application of additional principles in Earth Science
through study in upper division courses.
Competency 2.6
Application of additional principles in cognate area
sciences through study in selected electives.
Outcome 3 Students shall pursue independent work, data synthesis, and problem
solving.
Competency 3.1
Be able to synthesize information and interpretations of
information in the various disciplines of Earth Science
from multiple sources.
Competency 3.2
Be able to demonstrate the ability to apply these
capabilities in the classroom setting.
Competency 3.3
Be able to successfully complete the student teaching
experience.
Outcome 4 Students shall communicate orally and in written form according to the
standards of the discipline.
Competency 4.1
Be able to make an oral presentation to a group of peers
which successfully communicates understanding of Earth
Science disciplines. This opportunity arises in methods
classes and field experience classes in teacher education.
In addition, Earth Science-Teaching majors gain valuable
experience by assisting in laboratory sections of
introductory college courses in the Earth Science
disciplines.
Competency 4.2
Be able to create a written paper (or report) in
conformance with discipline standards for scholarly
publication and in keeping with common standards of
expression for the English Language.
Outcome 5 Students shall use appropriate technologies in science teaching in an
effective manner.
Competency 5.1
Competency 5.2
Be able to select and evaluate technology-based
instructional materials, both computer based and video
based.
Be able to use appropriate technologies to collect,
analyze, and present data, and incorporate the use of
technologies into science teaching.
Measurement of Competencies (B.A. Earth Science-Teaching)
Competency
Method of Measurement
1.1--------------------------grades in required courses
1.2--------------------------grades in required courses
1.3--------------------------grades in required courses
1.4--------------------------grades in required courses;
observation by Earth Science staff
2.1--------------------------grades in required courses;
observations by Earth Science staff
2.2--------------------------grades in required courses;
observations by Astronomy staff
2.3--------------------------grades in required courses;
observations by Meteorology staff
2.4--------------------------grades in beginning Geology sequences;
observations by Geology staff
2.5--------------------------grades in elective Earth Science courses;
observations by Earth Science staff
2.6--------------------------grades in courses
3.1--------------------------required term papers and other writing
assignments in upper-level courses
3.2--------------------------feedback from the sequence in Professional
Education, including student teaching;
Feedback from methods courses
3.3--------------------------results of evaluation of student teaching
experience; assessment of the student
teaching experience by the participant
4.1--------------------------presentations in methods classes, field
experience classes and other classes
4.2--------------------------departmental writing requirement (see
attached copy of “Writing in the Earth
Sciences”)
5.1--------------------------successful completion of Current
Technologies in Science Teaching and
Educational Media courses
5.2--------------------------successful completion of Current
Technologies in Science Teaching and
Educational Media courses; results of
evaluation of the student teaching
experience
General understanding in verbal, quantitative, and analytical areas will also be judged by the
results of the (recommended) Graduate Record exam. The GRE results will allow us to assess the
standing of our graduates with a national audience and national norms. At the time of their graduation,
students are invited to provide comments concerning the strengths and weaknesses of this program.