Program Level Outcome (PLO) Assessment Report Summary
Program Level Outcomes for Biology:
Upon successful completion of the Biology program, a student should be able to:
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apply the scientific method to problem solving, devising a research plan, and evaluating
data and findings.
describe the structure and function of biological molecules, cells and organelles, and
tissues and organ systems of plants and animals.
apply the principles of heredity at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels.
explain the mechanism and evidence of evolution through natural selection.
apply taxonomic principles to the classification of organisms.
describe the flow of energy within organisms and within ecosystems.
What we looked at:
A single PLO was assessed in the fall of 2013. The PLO, apply taxonomic principles to the
classification of organisms, was assessed with a single SLO from two of the three biology
major’s courses (Biology 2, 3). The following instruments were used:
BIO 2- SLO 1. Given any animal phylum, the student will be able to describe the characteristics
that define the group as well as illustrate its life cycle.
1. Which statement about sponges is false?
a. Their bodies are aggregations of one cell type
b. They do not have a mouth
c. Their bodies are asymmetrical
d. They have simple bodies
e. All of the statements are correct
2. The traditional view of cnidarians relative to germ layers is that cnidaria possess
a. Only one germ layer, the ectoderm, that differentiates into the two tissue layers
b. Two germ layers, ectoderm and mesoderm
c. Two germ layers, endoderm and mesoderm
d. Two germ layers, ectoderm and endoderm
e. Definitely all three germ layers including the mesoglea as it is dervied from
ectoderm.
3. In some molluscs, the free-swimming larva is a trochophore while in others, it is a a. A
veliger with the beginnings of a foot, shell and mantle. What is the relationship of these
molluscan juvenile stages?
a. A veliger is found strictly in terrestrial molluscs
b. The trochophore is considered ancestral and the veliger is a derived larval stage
c. The two larval forms represent two early and distinct branches of molluscs
d. The veliger is ancestral and the trochophore is a derived larval stage
e. Only the cephalopods have the veliger stage; all other molluscs have a
trochophore stage
4. Polychaetes differ from other annelids because polychaetes
a. Lack any head or specialized sense organs
b. Have paired parapodia on most segments
c. Have a clitellum used for reproductive purposes
d. Lack setae
e. All of the choices are correct
5. The millipedes
a. Bear two pairs of legs on most body segments
b. Are very beneficial because they feed on insects
c. Are more active than centipedes because they have more legs
d. Have flattened bodies in contrast to centipedes
e. Lack spiracles and tracheae and therefore differ from centipedes
6. Hemichordates show relationships to
a. Arrow-worms
b. Arthropods and annelids
c. Molluscs and echinoderms
d. Annelids and echinoderms
e. Both the echinoderms and the chordates
BIO 3- SLO #1: Given any plant phylum, the student will be able to describe the characteristics that
define the phylum as well as illustrate the life history of one of its representatives.
Instrument (Questions on final lecture exam- 5 points): Match the taxonomic group on the right to its
traits on the left.
Causes red tides, peridinin present, ‘to whirl’
Paramylon starch, chlorophylls A & B, mesokaryotic, eyespot
Chlorophylls A & D, no flagella, pit connections
Chlorophylls A & C, silica cell wall, frustules
Coleochaete, chlorophylls A & B, diverse flagella
a. Euglenophyta
b. Chlorophyta
c. Rhodophyta
d. Bacillariophyceae
e. Dinophyta
What we found:
BIO 2- Multiple choice results for question 1 were 27/28 96%, question 2 20/28 71%, question 3
28/28 100%, question 4 28/28 100%, question 5 28/28 100%, and question 6 26/28 93%. The
average of all six questions was 93%.
BIO 3- Matching- on average, students were able to match characters to the major plant phyla
78% of the time.
What our next steps are:
The results indicate that this learning outcome was fulfilled. No further steps are required at this
time.