LA HARBOR COLLEGE
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Assessment Report
Course Assessment
Division: Communications
Discipline/Program:
Journalism
Course Number and Name: JOURNAL 101 Collecting and Writing News
Program Contact Person: Paul McLeod________________________________ Phone: x4252____________________
Reviewed by: Lora Lane, SLO Assessment Coordinator
Date:
March 2012
Attach additional pages as necessary.
Institutional
Learning Outcomes
4
1
1
1
Course Intended
Outcomes
1. Demonstrate absolute
necessity for deadlines,
accuracy and fairness in
the preparation and
dissemination of news.
Means of Assessment and Criteria
for Success
Means: Series of style tests.
2. Recognize how the
media determine
newsworthiness of events
and issues.
Means: 100 question exam
3. Apply the
fundamentals of
gathering information
and writing a basic
news story.
Means: Case Project in which
students will cover and report on an
on-campus meeting.
Criteria: Utilizing the Associated
Press Stylebook and inverted pyramid
format, 70% of students will
demonstrate a score of 70% or better
in subjective grading of written
results.
4. Comprehend legal
and ethical obligations
of journalists as
Means: 100 question exam
Assessment: 75% of students will
demonstrate a collective score of
85% or better on Associated Press
style.
Criteria: 70% of students will
demonstrate a score of 80% or better
according to a departmental rubric
Criteria: 70% of students will
Summary of Data Collected
Use of Results
Fall 2011:
70% of students (19 of 29) scored
80% or higher according to the
departmental rubric. This is in the
ballpark. 26% (7 of 27) met or
exceeded the goal.
A style score of 85% is generally what is
expected in the workplace when applying for
a job, so these results are promising for a
beginning newswriting class. Lowering the
standard, however, should not take place. To
increase levels of success, additional time in
the learning lab will be made mandatory in
Spring, 2012.
Original standard may be too high. Test will
also be re-evaluated.
Fall 2011:
26% of students (7 of 27) scored
80% or better. 70% (19 of 27)
scored 70% or better.
Fall 2011:
83% of students (24 of 29)
completed assignment effectively.
No change needed.
Fall 2011:
No students met the criteria. 46%
(12 of 26) scored 70% or better
Criteria is too high. Lower scoring standard
to 70%, re-evaluate exam’s method of
effectiveness in relationship to instruction.
determined by
California law, federal
law and organizations
like the Society of
Professional Journalists.
demonstrate a score of 85% or better
according to a departmental rubric