Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning Outcome Report – EMS Paramedic Program
Academic Year of Report: 2011-2012
College of Education and Professional Studies
Department of Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Sciences
EMS Paramedicine Program
1. What student learning outcomes were assessed this year and why?
The EMS Paramedicine Program assessed the first Learning Outcome this year as it represents
the most determinate measure of program success of all the other outcomes. That Student
Learning Outcome is:
“Students and Program graduates will demonstrate knowledge of programmatic and coursespecific goals, as well as professional benchmarks in preparatory, assessment, and medical
therapeutics in prehospital paramedicine.”
The motivation for this goal selection this year is based upon each of the following:
1. These goals were constructed from national standard curriculum guidelines as
well as accreditation-specific program goals. Great emphasis is placed on these
goals as they are critical in assessing Program effectiveness and will continue to
be assessed each year to trend progress and success. Placing such emphasis on
notably aggressive goals is essential to the continued programmatic distinction
this EMS Paramedicine Program has as well as continued efforts toward
national recognition.
2. It is important to note that these goals are also related to the
Department/Program goals of “Students will demonstrate the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes to be successful in their field as practitioners as well as
leaders” and “The EMS Paramedic Program will continue to be recognized in
the region for its outstanding program attainment and accomplished
graduates, as well as for its comprehensive programmatic content and
innovative educational methodologies.”
3. In addition, College Goals 1 and 5 are also related: “Provide for an outstanding
academic and professional growth experience for students at all CWU location”
and “Provide professional, high-quality, staffing, facilities, technologies, and
appropriate resources to ensure the highest level of academic and professional
development.”
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Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning Outcome Report – EMS Paramedic Program
4. And finally, University Goals I, IV, and V are also related: “Maintain and
strengthen an outstanding academic and student life on the Ellensburg
campus.” and “Build mutually beneficial partnerships with the public sector,
industry, professional groups, institutions, and the communities surrounding
our campuses.” and “Achieve regional and national prominence for the
university.”
2. How were the student learning outcomes assessed, who were assessed, and when?
This Student Learning Outcome was assessed through several traditional methods.
The methods employed in the assessment of this Student Learning Outcome included:
1. The use of standard cognitive performance assessment. In all courses of the
EMS Paramedicine Major, students were evaluated on their cognitive abilities
through traditional psychometric testing practices. Periodic, mid-term, and
end-of-course final exams were administered in a controlled manner. These
exams varied in format (multiple choice, short answer, completion, and essay)
to assess effectively the scope and breadth of knowledge within the
paramedicine discipline. In addition, cognitive assessment was also conducted
in student group performance, team dynamics (an integral component in
paramedicine practice that is closely linked to psychomotor skill performance),
and in formal student presentations.
2. The use of specialized and discipline-specific psychomotor skill assessment.
The principal means by which psychomotor skill performance assessment is
conducted is through a comparative analysis of student performance to
established skill standards as determined by the National Standard EMS
Curricula Guidelines, the National Registry Skill Performance Guidelines skill
sheets, and Program-developed skill performance assessment instruments. In
addition, students are evaluated on their field performances through clinical
preceptor evaluation and established evaluative guidelines, as well as a
qualitative assessment of knowledge in a problem-based learning environment.
3. What was learned?
In measuring this Student Learning Outcome and comparing it to previous year’s
performances, the following summary is revealed:
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Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning Outcome Report – EMS Paramedic Program
Course
EMS 335
EMS 335LAB
EMS 336
EMS 336LAB
EMS 337
EMS 337LAB
EMS 440
EMS 441
EMS 443
EMS 444
EMS 451
EMS 459
EMS 493
Met standard
2010-2011
93.55%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
91.66%
100%
93.55%
100%
82.14%
Met standard
2011-2012
95.65%
100%
90.91%
100%
100%
100%
82.14%
95.83%
93.75%
81.82%
95.46%
100%
88.24%
Percent Change
2.25%
0%
(9.09%)
0%
0%
0%
(17.86%)
(4.17%)
2.28%
(18.18%)
2.04%
0%
7.42%
From this data, it can be determined that programmatic and course goals are being
met within a reasonable range of the benchmark. Given the academic rigor of the
Program and the student performance during previous National Registry performance
examinations, the data suggest that the Program continues to perform above the
national standard. Even if the CWU EMS Paramedicine Program had academic goals
identical to other national programs, the performances illustrated above still
demonstrate achievement. Taking into consideration the lofty performance standards
and academic rigor of the EMS Paramedicine Program at CWU, the results are even
more promising.
These results also draw the attention to the potential of the student candidates for
each academic year cohort in the Program. In effect, the question becomes, “Do the
student candidates for each academic year possess the potential to meet the academic
rigor of the Program?” This question has been the investigational focus of the
Program for the past few years given the fact that most candidates are recruited from
the local region. To assure student successes in the future, IF the Program continues
to expect the same academic rigor that currently exists, recruitment must occur
nationwide.
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Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning Outcome Report – EMS Paramedic Program
This information is useful to assess the adequacy in the level of cognitive content of
the various courses and the difficulty of the academic challenge offered the students.
It is also helpful in assessing pedagogic effectiveness.
The Program will continue to monitor these parameters and strive to achieve higher
performances among the Paramedic Program cohorts in the future.
4. What will the Program do as a result of that information?
The information derived is informative and important. Several options exist for a
continued course of action:
1. If the University leadership and the Program faculty continue to seek national
program recognition in EMS and aspire for discipline excellence, then the
academic rigor and performance standards that the Program currently espouses
should be maintained. However, to achieve desirable academic performance
and Student Learning Outcomes, the candidate selection of the prospective
students must include a national source. Expansion of candidate sources to a
national level is essential to future Program successes. To achieve this, a
national marketing plan must be adopted and an application process conducive
to out-of-state students is essential.
2. In addition, the Program will continue to promote success and endeavor to
achieve improvements in student learning outcomes in this area. Specifically,
the Program will seek additional means of information delivery, methods of
instruction, and evaluative measures to assure maximal student comprehension
and mastery of cognitive, psychomotor, and behavioral objectives.
3. New and innovative instructional methods have been, and will continue to be,
employed in the classroom. This will continue to include, but not be limited to,
focus group discussions, supplemental information via Blackboard platform,
independent case investigation by students, problem-based learning curricula in
select core development courses, multimedia platforms, and other sound
pedagogical approaches.
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Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning Outcome Report – EMS Paramedic Program
4. Psychomotor skill development have been substantively enhanced with
additional core and supplemental objectives (e.g., advanced physical
examination procedures, ophthalmoscopy, otoscopy, 12-lead
electrocardiography, etc.), as well as additional instructional resources to
maintain intensity of instruction for these critical skills. Practical lab sessions are
currently designed to allow compliance with national standard guidelines to
assure adequate instructional guidance of students due to the complexity and
criticality of these skills. This standard is critical to our profession and, in
particular, to our educational practices. We will continue to regard this practice
as unalterable within our Program for continued success.
5. Behavioral objective achievement has been effectively assessed and those
successes assured with a newly implemented evaluative instrument adopted
from the most recent national standard curricula guidelines. This assessment
tool will continue to be applied periodically each quarter with summary results
shared with the students throughout the academic year. This parameter of
education (affective domain) will continue to be given equal relevance in student
completion of Program goals and requirements.
6. Additionally, student field assessment and performance documentation will
continue to receive 100% review by the Program’s faculty and staff, as means
and facilities permit. Despite the arduous nature and the significant demand it
places on our faculty, we will continue this practice as it results in programmatic
standards that far exceed current accreditation and industry benchmarks as an
element of student and program assessment.
5. What did the Program do in response to the feedback from last year’s assessment report?
The feedback from last year’s assessment report has helped the EMS Paramedicine
Program immeasurably in developing further the assessment of the Program’s learning
goals. Input was invaluable and, coupled with the data collected, the Program is able
to enhance assessment goals, practices, and improve outcomes universally. It is the
Program’s plan to achieve near 100% accomplishment in goal-oriented outcomes in
the years to come.
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Central Washington University
Assessment of Student Learning Outcome Report – EMS Paramedic Program
6. Questions or suggestions concerning the Assessment of Student Learning at Central
Washington University:
This year’s questions and suggestions remain the same as previous.
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