A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Revised 10/21/2013
Course Prefix, Number and Title: LAW 205-Contracts
Division/Unit: WebCollege/Law
Submitted by: Henry Sotelo
Contributing Faculty: Wesley M. Ayres
Academic Year: 2013-2014 (Fall2013)
Complete and electronically submit your assessment report to your Department Chair/Coordinator/Director. As needed, please attach supporting documents and/or
a narrative description of the assessment activities in your course.
Course Outcomes
In the boxes below, summarize
the outcomes assessed in your
course during the year.
Outcome#l
Student will demonstrate an
understanding of the concepts
and terminology applicable to
contract law.
Assessment Measures
Assessment Results
Use of Results
Effect on Course
In the boxes below, summarize
the methods used to assess course
outcomes during the last year.
In the boxes below, summarize
the results of your assessment
activities during the last year.
In the boxes below, summarize
how you are or how you plan to
use the results to improve student
learning.
Based on the results of this
assessment, will you revise your
outcomes? If so, please
summarize how and why in the
boxes below:
Students were required to
complete two examinations
which emphasized contract law
concepts and terminology;
students were also required to
complete a pre-course assessment
survey to ascertain their level of
understanding prior to
completing the course.
The midterm examination was
graded using a quantitative A-F
system. The average midterm
examination grade was 78 points
out of I 00. Grade distribution
was as follows:
A- 19%
B-27%
C-27%
D-27%
Midterm examination grades
were correlated with class
attendance, and this analysis
showed that the average grade for
students who missed 0 classes
was 82%. That average fell with
each class missed, with students
missing 3 classes averaging 72%.
Similar results were seen for the
final examination:
Outcome #I is appropriate for the
course. A comparison of precourse assessment survey results
with final examination results
also demonstrates that teaching
methodologies are effective.
However, because student grades
are significantly affected by
absences, coursework should be
modified to incentivize class
attendance (e.g., weekly in-class
quizzes, or "pop" quizzes).
The final examination was
graded using a qualitative A-F
system. Grade distribution was
as follows:
A-4%
B-74%
C-22%
D-0%
The average number of correct
responses per question on the
Page 1
0 Missed Classes - B+
I Missed Classes- B
2 Missed Classes - B3 Missed Classes- C+
These results underscore the need
to emphasize class attendance,
where the nuances of contract
law concepts and terms are
explored in greater detail than in
the text.
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TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: LAW 205-Contracts
Division/Unit: WebCollege/Law
Submitted by: Henry Sotelo
Contributing Faculty: Wesley M. Ayres
Academic Year: 2013-2014 (Fall2013)
Course Outcomes
Assessment Measures
Assessment Results
Use of Results
Effect on Course
These results demonstrate that a
substantial majority of students
were able to effectively
differentiate important facts from
irrelevant facts, and then analyze
those facts and apply appropriate
contract law theories and
authorities to reach a supportable
conclusion. However, as
explained above, student grades
are significantly impacted by
class attendance, where the
nuances of contract law concepts
and terms are explored in greater
detail than in the text.
Outcome #2 is appropriate for the
course. Assessment results also
show that teaching
methodologies are effective.
However, in light of the nexus
between attendance and student
comprehension, coursework
should be modified to incentivize
students to attend class (e.g.,
weekly in-class quizzes, or "pop"
quizzes).
pre-course assessment was 4.3
(out of 22 students); for those
same questions on the final
exam, the average was 18.7 (out
of23 students).
Outcome #2
Student will demonstrate the
ability to critically analyze legal
problems and properly apply
acquired knowledge to their
resolution.
Students were required to
complete a final examination
consisting of three separate fact
patterns. Each fact pattern was
followed by multiple questions
that required students to
determine the applicable contract
law theories, apply those
concepts to the facts provided,
and form an appropriate
conclusion. In addition, students
were required to complete a
writing assignment involving a
specified factual scenario.
Students were provided with
applicable legal authorities, but
had to explain how those
authorities would apply to the
fact pattern provided.
The final examination was
graded using a qualitative A-F
system. Grade distribution was
as follows:
A-4%
B-74%
C-22%
D-0%
The writing assignment was also
graded using a qualitative A-F
system. Grade distribution was
as follows:
A-39%
B-31%
C-17%
D-0%
F- 13%
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TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: LAW 205-Contracts
Division/Unit: WebCollege/Law
Submitted by: Henry Sotelo
Contributing Faculty: Wesley M. Ayres
Academic Year: 2013-2014 (Fall2013)
Course Outcomes
Outcome#3
Student will demonstrate
effective communication skills.
Assessment Measures
Assessment Results
Students were required to prepare
a written memorandum in which
they had to apply and explain
contract law authorities and
concepts in the context of a
hypothetical.
The writing assignment was
graded using a qualitative A-F
system. Grade distribution was
as follows:
A -39%
B -31%
C -17%
D - 0%
F - 13%
Use of Results
Effect on Course
These results demonstrate that
70% of students are able to
effectively convey their analyses
of contract law authorities and
concepts. Because effective
written communication is vital to
the work of legal assistants and
paralegals, use of a writing
assignment will continue.
Outcome #3 is appropriate for the
course. Writing assignments
provide students with additional
practice in written
communication, which is a
desirable outcome considering
program objectives. Because
oral communication skills are
also important, coursework
should be modified to include an
assignment requiring students to
make oral presentations (e.g.,
analyze and explain case decision
involving contract law concepts
and answer related class
q uestions).
Please enter your name and date below to confirm you have reviewed this report:
Title
Name
Date
I
Department Chair/Coordinator/Director
John Reid
3/ll/201 4
Dean
Fred Lokken
3/12/2014
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I
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Jane Nichols
~
Page 3
Q "'~ /
3/13/2014
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