A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Revised 10/21/2013
Course Prefix, Number and Title: GEOG 106 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Division/Unit: Sciences
Submitted by: Patrick Guiberson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: Spring 2015
Complete and ele<:tronically 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#!
Students will identify and
describe cultural traits present in
the local environment, analyzing
the geographical processes
observed within the landscape.
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 will prepare written
reports and/or presentations of
self-guided fieldtrips of their
local area, linking the buildings,
business and other landmarks
with a particular cultural identity.
The results of their analysis will
be evaluated against a predefined rubric that confonns to
stated objectives of the field
exercise.
The primary measure used was
student perfonnance on a written
report of their field project.
Average score was 87%. The
high was a 98 and the low a 0.
The results on the student reports
are within expected nonns for an
introductory, self-guided field
project. However, a few of the
NGS objectives did return lower
than expected results.
The intent is to have the students
look more closely at the concept
'cultural landscape'. As
currently stated, this is achieved.
However, the Outcome/Measure
does seem confining in tenns of
the kinds of activities that may be
employed. I believe the
"Outcome' portion is attainable
via a number of different means.
I am however considering
revising the 'Measures' portion.
Additionally, several key
learning objectives are presented.
See attached Narrative section
(below). For a more detail
accounting.
An increase in class discussions
of these complex ideas and
concepts will afford students
more practice in solving these
kinds of critical thinking
questions.
Also, I plan to increase the
mentoring the part-time
instructors in the development
and use of active learning
strategies for their sections.
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A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: GEOG 106 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Division/Unit: Sciences
Submitted by: Patrick Guiberson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: Spring 2015
Course Outcomes
Outcome#2
Students will identify and
analyze patterns of diffusion,
distribution, and origins of
cultural traits at varied spatial
scales; local, regional, and
global.
Assessment Measures
On exams or homework
assignments, students will
interpret information from
several maps, drawing
conclusions by correlating the
geographic information in those
maps. A grading rubric or key
will be used in evaluating student
work.
Assessment Results
See attached Narrative section
(below). For a more detail
accounting.
Use of Results
Overall, the results are mixed,
though overall students did fairly
well on these Key objectives.
A lack or previous data on
student performance does not
allow for a discussion on student
learning gains. However, it does
appear that some students did
repeat errors.
Effect on Course
The current assessment
methodology does not measure
learning gains, rather it is an
indicator of student performance
only. A pre-test/post-test
diagnostic tool is being
considered.
To combat this, I will continue to
track responses on key learning
objectives and offer feedback and
examples so students may
improve upon their results.
Outcome #3
Students will illustrate and
explain how places and regions
serve as cultural symbols, acting
to unify or fragment society.
Student ability will be evaluated
through use of standardized
metrics, by way of various
formal and informal writing
assignments and through the use
of in class discussions and
assigned homework.
See attached.
The assignments and exam
results indicate some problem
areas. In particular I noticed
lower results on questions
dealing with human health, while
the results for questions on
population dynamics and
structure were not nearly as low.
The population quiz; average was
72.5% correct and the
epidemiology quiz; average of
51 .8% correct Puzzling as these
two topics are covered in the
Page 2
At this time I do not plan on
revisions to this particular
outcome/measure.
A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: GEOG 106 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Division/Unit: Sciences
Submitted by: Patrick Guiberson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: Spring 2015
Course Outcomes
Assessment Measures
Assessment Results
Use of Results
Effect on Course
same chapter within the text.
This suggests that I may need to
need to focus on those topical
areas, allowing for additional
opportunities for students to
achieve better on these
objectives.
Outcome#4
Using a geographic approach,
student will identify and
critically evaluate the impacts of
science and technology on
human society
A grading rubric will be used to
evaluate written responses on
digitally submitted responses.
See attached.
The lack of previous offerings
data makes it difficult to
comment on a trends in the
student performance measures.
Additional data would be useful.
In the future the use of additional
writing assignments and quizzes
to ensure a reiteration of
information will be employed.
This course had its MCO revised
in I0/2014. Additional
opportunities to evaluate this will
prove useful.
At this time I do not plan on
revisions to this particular
outcome/measure.
Narrative: A new textbook was adopted for this tenn. The MCO for Geog106 was revised, including new outcomes and measures, 10/2014. They are being
evaluated here. The results reported here are arrived at from (I) grading rubrics used for student submissions of written assignments and quizzes/exams; (2)
objective questions on assignments and quizzes/exams making use of key learning objectives for topics covered during the class. The National Geography
Standards (NGS) have been tied to both the subjective and objective questions used to evaluate student performance and are used here as the key learning
objectives.
Student perfonnance results on these key learning objectives are cross referenced against the Outcomes/Measures identified for this course, compiled here so as to
better assess student learning of the key concepts addressed in class. Student perfonnance is indicated in Average Percent Correct. Below results are presented
and each of the Outcome/Measures is discussed.
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A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
Course Prefix, Number and Title: GEOG 106 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Division/Unit: Sciences
Submitted by: Patrick Guiberson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: Spring 2015
Outcome#l: ... describe cultural traits present in the local environment, analyzing the geographical processes ...
Established in the course syllabus is the use of an active, participatory methodology that encourages participation and preparation throughout the course.
Establishing an active classroom environment is critical to the success of this approach. This is especially relevant for the final project, and preparing
students for their self-guided field experiences. The final project was thus prefaced with a series of discussion sections, demonstrations, and through
several examples in graded assignments and quizzes. The following NOS key objectives have also been tied to these questions and apply directly to this
Outcome:
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 18: HOW TO APPLY GEOGRAPHY TO INTERPRET THE PRESENT AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE; 62.1
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 14: HOW HUMAN ACTIONS MODIFY THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT; 83.9
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 3: HOW TO ANALYZE THE SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS ON
EARTH'S SURFACE; 77.4
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 15: HOW PHYSICAL SYSTEMS AFFECT HUMAN SYSTEMS; 83.7
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD I 7: HOW TO APPLY GEOGRAPHY TO INTERPRET THE PAST; 97.6
Outcome#2: ... patterns ofdiffusion, distribution, and origins of cultural traits at varied spatial scales.
Results for the NOS key objectives tied to this Outcome:
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 7: THE PHYSICAL PROCESSES THAT SHAPE THE PATTERNS OF EARTH'S SURFACE; 85.6
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 9: THE CHARACTERISTICS, DISTRIBUTION, AND MIGRATlON OF HUMAN POPULATIONS ON
EARTH'S SURFACE; 76.9
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 1: HOW TO USE MAPS AND OTHER GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS, GEOSPATIAL
TECHNOLOGIES, AND SPATIAL THINKING TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION; 78.9
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD I 0: THE CHARACTERISTICS, DISTRIBUTION, AND COMPLEXITY OF EARTH'S CULTURAL MOSAICS;
80.7
• GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 8: THE CHARACTERISTICS AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ECOSYSTEMS AND BIOMES OF
EARTH'S SURFACE; 92.5
Outcome#3: ... places and regions sen•e as cultural symbols, acting to unify or fragment society.
The following key NOS learning objectives have been linked to this Outcome:
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A
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT (CAR)
TMCC
Course Prefix, Number and Title: GEOG 106 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Division/Unit: Sciences
Submitted by: Patrick Guiberson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: Spring 2015
•
•
•
•
•
GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 13: HOW THE FORCES OF COOPERATION AND CONFLICT AMONG PEOPLE INFLUENCE THE
DIVISION AND CONTROL OF EARTH'S SURFACE; 84.1
GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 11 : THE PAITERNS AND NETWORKS OF ECONOMIC lNTERDEPENDENCE ON EARTH'S SURFACE;
74.5
GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 5: THAT PEOPLE CREATE REGIONS TO INTERPRET EARTH'S COMPLEXITY; 66.0
GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 6: HOW CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE INFLUENCE PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF PLACES AND
REGIONS; 67. 7
GEOGRAPHY STANDARD 12: THE PROCESSES, PAITERNS, AND FUNCTIONS OF HUMAN SEITLEMENT; 83.7
Outcome#4: ... the impacts ofscience and technology on human society
Primarily in-class discussions and short writing assignments were used to evaluate this Outcome. However, several key measures have been identified
which apply directly to the 'technology and society' topic areas.
Results on key indicators applied to this Outcome include:
• Demonstrate the ability to think critically and employ critical thinking skills.; 76.3
• Demonstrate the ability to make connections between concepts across geography.; 78.3
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of scientific inquiry. ; 81.6
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of science on society. ; 84.2
• Demonstrating the quantitave skills need to succeed in an introductory geography course ; 78.4
• Evaluate the credibility of scientific information from various sources.; 71.2
• Read and interpret graphs and data ;75.6
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A
TMCC
COURSE ASSESSMENT REPORT {CAR)
Course P refix, Number and Title: GEOG 106 Introduction to Cultural Geography
Division/Unit: Sciences
Submitted by: Patrick Guiberson
Contributing Faculty:
Academic Year: Spring 2015
Please enter your name and date below to confi rm you have reviewed this report:
Title
Name
Date
col be..-t-
Department Chair/Coordinator/Director
Dean
Vice President of Academic Affairs
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