Motlow State Community College
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Use of Assessment Results
Fall Semester 2008
Program Title: General Education, University Parallel Major
Course: ECON 2010
Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:
1. Recognize and explain the significance of economics as an academic discipline and how it relates to
the social interactions between individuals, institutions, structures and processes in a diverse
society.
2. Analyze and communicate the methodology, values and processes that are used to formulate
general economic theories regarding the social context of individual and institutional behavior.
3. Appraise the relationship and behavioral interaction between the different economic players and
the impact that interaction has on social development and the quality of life for individuals, families
and communities.
4. Express an understanding of fundamental economic concepts associated with recognizing and
appreciating the cultural diversity of the society in which they live and how those concepts are
influenced and impacted by a global culture.
5. Define and discuss different economic systems existing in the world and how those systems interact
and affect the political, economical, cultural and social behavior of the different societies.
6. Discuss the macroeconomic relationships existing between individuals, households, businesses and
governmental institutions, and the impact those relationships have on personal and social behavior.
7. Analyze the macroeconomic ramifications and impact of marketplace activities on the social
behavior of individuals, households, businesses and government.
8. Critically analyze the macroeconomic functions of government and the impact it has on personal
behavior, social development and the general quality of life for all persons.
9. Recognize and describe basic macroeconomic theory and pursuant policy making processes that
help to formulate personal and institutional views and opinions concerning existing and/or
proposed national and international social and behavioral state of affairs.
Performance Measure(s): Imbedded assessment.
Effectiveness Standard:
Examination Questions
1. Identify and briefly
explain the three basic
economic
perspectives.
Total Points
9 points.
Three points for identification of
perspectives (one point per
perspective).
Six points for explaining the
perspectives (two points per
perspective).
Expected Student
Outcomes
It is expected that 70% of
the students will
successfully pass by
achieving a minimum of six
points.
Learning
Outcome(s)
1, 2, 3,
4,5,6,7,8,9
2.
3.
Define “capitalism,”
and identify and
explain the
characteristics of a
“capitalist” system.
Define the business
cycle, identify the
phases of the business
cycle, and explain
what is happening to
the economic
criterion/indicators
during each phase of
the cycle.
(Note: The economic
criterion/indicators taught
in class should be
demand/spending;
supply/output; incomes;
employment/unemployme
nt; and prices.)
4. Assume that the
economy is in the
midst of a severe
recession. What Fiscal
Policy would you
recommend and
explain the impact it
would have on the
economy.
5. Assume that the
economy is suffering
from massive inflation
and you are the
Chairperson of the
FED. What monetary
policy/tool would you
employ and then using
the “cause-effect
chain,” explain the
effect it would have
on the economy.
12 points.
Two points for defining “capitalism.”
Five points for identifying the
characteristics of a “capitalist”
system.
Five points for explaining the
characteristics of a “capitalist”
system.
14 points.
Two points for defining the business
cycle.
Two points for identifying the phases
of the business cycle (four phases, .5
points per phase).
It is expected that 70% of
the students will
successfully pass by
achieving a minimum of
eight points.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
It is expected that 70% of
the students will
successfully pass by
achieving a minimum of ten
points.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
It is expected that 70% of
the students will
successfully pass by
achieving a minimum of
four points.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
It is expected that 70% of
the students will
successfully pass by
achieving a minimum of
four points.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Ten points for explaining what is
happening to the economic
criterion/indicators during each
phase (.5 points for each
criterion/indicator for each phase).
Six points.
Three points for selecting the correct
Fiscal Policy action.
Three points for correctly explaining
the economic impact.
6 points.
Three points for selecting the correct
monetary policy/tool.
Three points for correctly explaining
the economic impact of the
policy/tool using “cause-effect
chain.”
Assessment Results:
Sections
01
03
07
08
13/15/17/27
Question Pass/Fail Pass/Fail Pass/Fail Pass/Fail
Pass/Fail
24/5
30/8
25/3
29/4
25/10
1
Analysis: 172 passed/40 failed for a passing rate of 81.13%
21/8
31/7
23/5
27/6
30/5
2
Analysis: 174 passed/38 failed for a passing rate of 82.08%
19/10
30/8
23/5
30/3
28/7
3
Analysis: 167 passed/45 failed for a passing rate of 78.77%
25/4
32/6
22/6
29/4
29/6
4
Analysis: 178 passed/34 failed for a passing rate of 83.96%
20/9
29/9
22/6
31/2
29/6
5
Analysis: 169 passed/43 failed for a passing rate of 79.72%
19
Pass/Fail
10/5
21
Pass/Fail
29/5
12/3
30/4
11/4
26/8
12/3
29/5
10/5
28/6
Use of Assessment Results: The anticipated outcomes were achieved on all of the embedded questions
in all of the different sections. It should be noted that in 2008 only 64% of the students passed question
#3, however, in 2008, 78.77% of the students passed. This represents a 14.77% increase. There was
also a 9.19% increase in the number of students that passed question #2. The other questions remained
relatively constant, only varying about 4 – 5 percentage points from the previous year’s rates. Based on
the results of the assessment, no changes to course content/material or teaching strategies are
recommended.