KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Cover Sheet (10/02/2002)
Course Number/Program Name CHEM 6730
Department Chemistry and Biochemistry
Degree Title (if applicable) M.S. in Chemistry; EdS/EdD Secondary Ed-Science, M.Ed.
Proposed Effective Date Fall 2013
Check one or more of the following and complete the appropriate sections:
X New Course Proposal
Course Title Change
Course Number Change
Course Credit Change
Course Prerequisite Change
Course Description Change
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
Notes:
If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a new course with a
new number should be proposed.
A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed as part of a new
program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing course incorporated into the
program.
Minor changes to a course can use the simplified E-Z Course Change Form.
Submitted by: Scott Lewis
Faculty Member
Approved
_____
Date
Not Approved
Department Curriculum Committee Date
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Not Approved
Department Chair
Date
College Curriculum Committee
Date
College Dean
Date
GPCC Chair
Date
Dean, Graduate College
Date
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Vice President for Academic Affairs Date
Approved
Not Approved
President
Date
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM CHANGE
I.
Current Information (Fill in for changes)
Page Number in Current Catalog
___
Course Prefix and Number
___
Course Title
___
Class Hours
____Laboratory Hours_______Credit Hours________
Prerequisites
___
Description (or Current Degree Requirements)
II.
Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number __CHEM 6730________________________
Course Title ___ Chemistry Assessment Practices
___________
Class Hours
3 ____Laboratory Hours__0____CreditHours_3______
Prerequisites Graduate student standing
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
This course is designed to cover both the theory and practice of assessments in chemistry. Emphases will
cover both traditional, multiple choice or short answer assessments as well as alternative assessment
techniques. The theory presented will focus on the design of traditional assessments and the rationale for
considering alternative assessments. Practical considerations will include the design, implementation and
evaluation of assessments to be used in a chemistry class room.
III.
Justification
This course is designed to prepare future chemistry teachers, enrolled in
the MAT Chemistry program, the theory and practical background for
developing sound traditional and alternative assessment practices. This
class is unique in its focus on assessments that pertain to chemistry and its
emphasis on alternative assessments. Additionally this class may be of
interest to MS Chemistry students who wish to pursue research in
chemistry education. Other potential audiences for this class include
students pursuing the M.Ed., Ed.S or Ed.D. secondary science emphasis.
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor: Scott Lewis
Text: Readings provided as required
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing
Objectives:
Students in this course will develop and demonstrate:





a working knowledge of multiple choice exams consistent with and the principles of sound
assessment practices
the ability to examine assessment results in the context of discriminatory power, validity and item
bias
the evaluation of alternative assessment techniques, including online testing and various openended assessments
a description of the rationale for formative assessments and describe their use in an educational
setting
alternative uses for assessment results including program evaluation and conducting educational
research
Instructional Method
This class will be largely led in a seminar type format, where students
bring their own experiences in chemistry assessment to combine with the
class discussion on what research literature suggests. Additionally,
cooperative learning will often be used to develop model assessments.
Method of Evaluation
Students will be evaluated based on three projects (50% of overall grade),
which require development of assessments and examination of assessment
results. Additionally, two tests will be administered (30% of overall
grade) which will examine both the theory and practice of testing. Finally,
attendance and participation in class activities will account for 20% of the
overall grade.
V.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
1 per class offering
0
Can use equipment already available
Photocopying when needed
0
0
0
0
TOTAL
0
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth
0
VI. COURSE MASTER FORM
This form will be completed by the requesting department and will be sent to the Office of the
Registrar once the course has been approved by the Office of the President.
The form is required for all new courses.
DISCIPLINE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE FOR LABEL
(Note: Limit 30 spaces)
CLASS-LAB-CREDIT HOURS
Approval, Effective Term
Grades Allowed (Regular or S/U)
If course used to satisfy CPC, what areas?
Learning Support Programs courses which are
required as prerequisites
CHEM
6730
Chemistry Assessment Practices
3-0-3
Fall 2013
Regular
N/A
None
APPROVED:
________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee __
VII Attach Syllabus
Chemistry Assessment Practices
CHEM 6730 CRN #####
Days from time – time in Room
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
E-mail:
Preferred Contact:
Name
SC XXX, phone
times
address
enter preferred form of contact.
Course Description:
This course is designed to cover both the theory and practice of assessments in chemistry. Emphases will
cover both traditional, multiple choice or short answer assessments as well as alternative assessment
techniques. The theory presented will focus on the design of traditional assessments and the rationale for
considering alternative assessments. Practical considerations will include the design, implementation and
evaluation of assessments to be used in a chemistry class room.
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing
Required Materials:
 Readings provided as needed
Learning Objectives: Students in this course will develop and demonstrate:





a working knowledge of multiple choice exams consistent with and the principles of sound
assessment practices
the ability to examine assessment results in the context of discriminatory power, validity and item
bias
the evaluation of alternative assessment techniques, including online testing and various open-ended
assessments
a description of the rationale for formative assessments and describe their use in an educational
setting
alternative uses for assessment results including program evaluation and conducting educational
research
Attendance: Attendance to class is required, see grading scheme below.
Integrity: Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of
Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate Catalog. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct
addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and
cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation / falsification of University
records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious /
intentional misuse of computer facilities and / or services, and misuse of student identification cards.
Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the
University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal” resolution by a faculty member,
resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of
Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.
disAbility: Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to
notify the instructor as early in the semester as possible. Verification from KSU disAbled Student
Support Services is required (see Student Center room 267). All discussions will remain confidential.
Suggested Course Outline
Week
Topics
Week 1
Purpose of testing, assessment versus evaluation, role of discrimination,
normative versus criterion reference
Week 2
Principles of multiple choice exams
Week 3
The role of validity and reliability in assessment techniques
Week 4
The role of formative assessments in chemistry and effort versus merit
Week 5
Investigating cheating in assessment results
Week 6
Online assessments, adaptive testing
Week 7
Concept maps
Week 8
Creative exercises
Week 9
Higher level questions
Week 10
Assessments and chemistry demonstrations
Week 11
Assessments and chemistry labs and assessments designed for cooperative
learning pedagogies.
Week 12
Methods to investigate item bias
Week 13
Assessment and action research, relating chemistry knowledge to other
constructs and the use of ACS Exams
Week 14
Assessment for evaluation, discussion of value-added models.
Week 15
Assessments and cultural or language barriers
Changes: The policies in this syllabus may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Any changes to the
syllabus will be given in writing in-class and posted on the course web-site.
Grading: Your grade in the course will be based on three projects, two tests and attendance/participation
throughout the course. More details on each project and test will come forth during class.
Projects
1. You will develop a multiple choice exam pertaining to a chemistry topic of your choice. The exam
should be appropriate in length for a one-hour time frame. Included with the exam will be a list of
learning objectives the exam is intended to measure and a detailed description of the target population for
this exam. (15% of overall grade)
2. You will analyze results from a multiple choice exam in the context of validity, discriminatory power
and bias. (15% of overall grade)
3. You will develop and administer an alternative assessment discussed in class, pertaining to a chemistry
topic of your choice. If you cannot administer it to an authentic sample, then you will be allowed to
administer it to the class. Upon administration, you will score the student responses and discuss the
validity and discriminatory power of this assessment. (20% of overall grade)
Tests
1. A midterm will be given in Week 6 or 7 that will focus on testing theory and the design of traditional
assessment techniques in chemistry. This midterm is worth 15% of your overall grade.
2. A final exam will be given in Week 15 that will focus on alternative assessment techniques presented.
This final exam is worth 15% of your overall grade.
Attendance / participation
This class will work largely in a seminar format, where students’ contributions to the topics discussed will
aid the effectiveness of the class. For this reason, attendance will be regularly taken in class and missing
any more than two classes (for any reason) will result in a point deduction from this category.
Additionally, participation in group work and class presentations will also be assessed here. This
category will represent 20% of your overall grade.
Grading Scale:
90 – 100% A
80 – 89% B
70 – 79% C
60 – 69% D
Below 60% F