Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning
Department and Program Report
Please enter the appropriate information concerning your student learning assessment
activities for this year.
Academic Year of Report: __2010-2011______ College: __COTS____________
Department ___________________
Program: Science Talent Expansion Program
(STEP)
1. What student learning outcomes were assessed this year, and why?
In answering this question, please identify the specific student learning outcomes you assessed this year,
reasons for assessing these outcomes, with the outcomes written in clear, measurable terms, and note
how the outcomes are linked to department, college and university mission and goals.
Student Learning Outcome Assessed = Improve scientific writing skills.
This learning outcome supports the STEP program goal of recruiting and retaining students in the
Science and Technology fields by giving the students practice and feedback on their writing skills early in
their freshman year, which will help them succeed in subsequent courses within their science major fields.
This writing assessment required students to conduct individual research into energy topics and
summarize their findings, which supports the College of the Sciences Mission to “prepare students for
enlightened and productive lives through the intertwined endeavors of learning and research in the
classroom, laboratory, and field.” It supports the University Mission to prepare students for “enlightened
and productive lives” as well as “creative expression”.
2. How were they assessed?
In answering these questions, please concisely describe the specific methods used in assessing student
learning. Please also specify the population assessed, when the assessment took place, and the
standard of mastery (criterion) against which you will compare your assessment results. If appropriate,
please list survey or questionnaire response rate from total population.
A) What methods were used? Students wrote a 2-page essay summarizing information that they
gathered on an energy source. Writing content, style, organization and grammar were assessed.
B) Who was assessed? Freshmen students in the STEP 101 course.
C) When was it assessed? Fall, 2011.
3. What was learned?
In answering this question, please report results in specific qualitative or quantitative terms, with the
results linked to the outcomes you assessed, and compared to the standard of mastery (criterion) you
noted above. Please also include a concise interpretation or analysis of the results.
Course: STEP 101
Rubric Element
Content
Reasoning
Organization
Rhetoric of the Discipline (optional for Gen Ed)
Pass*
Non-Pass*
10/100%
4/40%
7/70%
0/0%
6/60%
3/30%
Conventions & Presentation
4/40%
6/60%
4. What will the department or program do as a result of that information?
In answering this question, please note specific changes to your program as they affect student learning,
and as they are related to results from the assessment process. If no changes are planned, please
describe why no changes are needed. In addition, how will the department report the results and
changes to internal and external constituents (e.g., advisory groups, newsletters, forums, etc.).
This assessment was conducted on the incoming, fall-quarter freshmen in the Science Talent Expansion
Program (STEP). It was one of the first assignments for that course, and hence serves as a benchmark
assessment of the writing skills of these students upon their arrival at CWU. Most of these students are
interested in majoring in a science, math or technology field. The results indicate that these students’
writing skills are in need of improvement, particularly in the area of reasoning, i.e. supporting their
assumptions with rationale arguments and examples, as well as in their format, grammar and
presentation. Based on these results, we will continue to emphasize the development of scientific writing
skills in this course.
Because STEP is partially funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, we will report our
assessment results as part of our annual and final reports to that funding agency.
5. What did the department or program do in response to last year’s assessment
information?
In answering this question, please describe any changes that have been made to improve student
learning based on previous assessment results. Please also discuss any changes you have made to your
assessment plan or assessment methods.
We did not make any changes to our assessment plan or methods in the last year.
6. Questions or suggestions concerning Assessment of Student Learning at
Central Washington University: