SLO Assessment Reporting Dialogue Agenda and Summary
Instructional Programs
Semester: Fall 2009
Program: Forensics – Speech and Debate
Participating Members: Suzanne, Anh Dung, Malik, Marcella, James
1. What critical student learning issue(s) and associated SLOs were assessed?
In the fall, we listed two outcomes to assess, but only actually worked with one due to time constraints. We
focused on the following outcome: Students should be able to design and relate messages clearly for
effective and appropriate oral communication (Program SLO #1).
2.a. What tools were used to assess student learning during the previous semester. Mark all that apply by
indicating the number of faculty who utilized that assessment strategy.
4
Item analysis of exams, quizzes, problem sets, etc.
_ 3__Assignments based on rubrics
1
Direct observation of performances
_____Analysis of student creative projects or portfolios
_____Student self-assessments (reflective journals, surveys)
_____Capstone projects or final summative assessment
_____Guided discussion (group or individual)
_____ We were not able to complete our assessment
_____Other (please describe):
2.b. Please list the courses (and the number of sections) in which the SLO assessments occurred:
Course
Forensics 101
Forensics 300
Number of Sections
3
2
3.a. What did you learn from your outcomes assessment or what impacted the success of your assessment
activities?
As we indicated on the fall form, we had more experienced debaters in the classes work with more novice
debaters outside of class time as they practiced for debates and conducted research. We then reviewed
our notes of the in-class debates to assess students’ ability to design and relate messages effectively.
We found that…
 Novice debaters have difficulty designing and relating messages clearly even when working with
more experienced peers.
 The logistical difficulties of requiring specific students to meet outside of class time interfered with
our assessment of outcomes.
 We need more information about why students are not successful on this outcome.
.
Over for more!
3.b. What changes, if any, are planned based on your outcomes assessment? Please check any appropriate
boxes and submit the indicated information.
Proposed Changes
Brief Description- Required for checked items
Anticipated
Implementation
Date (semester,
year)
□
Changes in course
sequence or prerequisites or
course outline of record
□
Revision of the course
syllabus
Restructure instructional materials and schedule
to provide more opportunities for collaborative
learning in class.
Fall, 2010
X Conduct further assessment We will design a new short assessment project for
related to the issue and
the spring that will survey students and
outcome
Fall, 2010
X Use of new or revised
teaching methods (e.g. more
use of group work, new
lectures)
□
Develop new methods of
evaluating student work
□
Planned purchase of new
equipment or supplies needed
for modified student activities
□
Changes in staffing (e.g.
modified job descriptions,
requests for new positions)
□
Involvement in
professional development
about best practices for this
type of class/activity
professors to identify the obstacles to success on
the outcome stated above.
□
Unable to determine what
should be done
□
Other