General Education Committee – Review of Outcomes
AY 2007 – 2008
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Committee members: Anthony Blose
Jim Devaprasad
Lorraine Gregory (chair)
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Outcome area: Mathematics
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Current Description:
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Current Outcomes:
The LSSU graduate uses mathematical techniques and ideas to cope intelligently
in the modern world and is able to use the techniques of mathematics in
disciplines in which it is central to research, analysis or conceptual development.
The graduate has an understanding and appreciation of the economy and precision
that mathematics can bring to the expression of ideas.
The graduate understands and appreciates the dual nature of mathematics as both
a science and an art.
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Courses:
o Core: None
o Distributional: MATH110 or higher or PHIL205
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Method of Assessment:
The University assesses the mathematics general education outcome through the
Academic Profile Test.
1. Convert courses from 2 character department to current 4 letter departmental
designation. Place results below:
a. Done – See above
For the following questions, all responses must be supported.
2. Are the current outcomes measurable? If so, are they measurable by quantitative
or qualitative means?
a. The first one is – ‘uses mathematical techniques and ideas . . .’
b. It is hard to measure ‘understand’ and ‘appreciate’ quantitatively.
3. Does the current method of assessment measure the stated outcomes?
a. No – the test is no longer used.
b. There is a mismatch between objectives and selected courses
4. Who are the stakeholders in the current outcomes?
a. Students, faculty, future employers, etc.
b. Society in general
5. How are the results of the assessment method delivered to the stakeholders?
a. Transcripts
b. The Academic Skills test was last used to the best of our knowledge in
2000 for ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)
accreditation
6. How does LSSU use the results of the assessment method?
a. It was used for ABET accreditation
b. Course assessments are used for future plans for each course
7. What changes, if any, do you propose to the outcomes? Support your position.
a. The students will be able to model situations from a variety of settings in
generalized formats, either mathematical or logical.
b. The students will be able to express and manipulate mathematical
information, concepts, and thoughts in verbal, numeric, graphical and
symbolic form while solving a variety of problems.
c. The students will have the ability to solve multi-step problems through
different (inductive, deductive and symbolic) modes of reasoning.
d. The students will be able to shift among verbal, numeric, graphical and
symbolic modes of considering relationships.
e. The students will be able to extract quantitative data from a given
situation, translate the data into information in various modes, evaluate the
information, abstract essential information, make logical deductions, and
arrive at reasonable conclusions.
We have chosen these objectives for several reasons:
 An important function of mathematical knowledge for a nonmathematician is problem solving and reasoning skills
 Being able to solve problems in a variety of formats and with a variety
of forms of reasoning is an important skill for any professional.
 These objectives summarize the content of mathematics courses used
for general education credit, especially MATH110 and PHIL205.
 These objectives are specific and measurable.
8. What changes, if any, do you propose to the method of assessment? Support your
position.
a. We are suggesting the following forms of assessment:
i. Courses have clearly defined objectives that are measurable.
ii. Surveying the student, asking for their opinion on how they feel
they are able to meet the objectives in the course (sample
attached). We suggest this assessment be attached to the final
exams in MATH110, 111, 112, 140, 151, 207 and in PHIL205.
These include the lowest level of mathematics taken by nearly all
students at LSSU.
iii. Reviewing course assessments such as exams to determine the
class average per objective.
This review is to be completed and sent to the Chair (bsnyder@lssu.edu) by Thursday,
February 14 2008.