Fall 2007 Assessment Report
Program: Theatre Arts MA
Prepared by: David Kahn
Date: 1/9/08
phone: 924-4540
Email: David.Kahn@email.sjsu.edu
Where multiple program curricula are almost identical, and SLOs and assessment plans
are identical, it is acceptable to list more than one program in this report.
Electronic and hard copy due to your college facilitator January 15, 2008. Digital version of
this form available at: http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/assessment/forms/
Please report any activity (collect data, analyze data, discuss results among faculty, implement
changes) you completed prior to the fall 2007 semester that is not already posted on the
Web (http://www.sjsu.edu/ugs/datareports/assess_report/). Please describe the content or
results of the activity.
Are samples, results, rubrics, etc for this report archived in the location listed on the Cover page?
____X______ YES
_______________ NO
C=Collect data D=Discuss data among faculty I=implement program changes based on data
1. Fall 2006 Performance Data: Describe the direct assessment (performance) data that
were collected in fall 2006.
SLO
#8
C
#9
C
Content or results of activity
Thesis Proposal accepted by the Department Graduate Committee. Instructor for TA 260,
Kahn, tracks thesis proposal acceptance rates for eleven enrolled students. Two
proposals were unconditionally accepted, one was conditionally accepted, eight students
did not complete the assignment
Thesis completion
2. Fall 2006 Indirect Measurement (if any): Describe the indirect assessment data that were
collected in fall 2006.
SLO
#9
C
Content or results of activity
Acceptances to Doctoral degree program, conference presentation; paper publication or
other achievements whereby student becomes identified as a problem-solver who can
lead, decide, or clarify the actions of others, especially in the realm of performing arts
education and culture. Kahn survey of twenty recent alumni. Results below.
3. Fall 2006 Findings/Analysis: Describe the findings that emerged from analysis of data
collected in F06.
SLO
#8
D
Content or results of activity
Successful completion of Thesis Proposals (measured by acceptance rate) remains a
difficult stumbling block for many graduate students. This is partly by design, since the
thesis proposal represents the final step in advancement to candidacy, and the TRFT
graduate committee sets a high standard for proposal criteria (see:
http://www.tvradiofilmtheatre.org/MA/Pages/Thesisprop.html). Students are required to
seek out a faculty proposal advisor, but are largely expected to work independently .
Revised 1/9/08
Page 1 of 3
#9
D
Of twenty graduate students who have completed the Thesis (TA 299) since 2004, four
are enrolled in Ph.D. programs (UCSC, UC Santa Barbara, University of Washington,
University of Chicago and National Taipei University. During this period, twelve students
presented or published papers at national conferences (see:
http://www.tvradiofilmtheatre.org/MA/Pages/current.html).
4. Fall 2006 Actions: What actions are planned and/or implemented to address the findings
from fall 2006 data? These are indicated by ‘I’ in Table 2 for the SLO data collected in fall ’06.
Examples of actions taken include curricular revision, pedagogical changes, student support
services, resource management.
SLO
#1
I
Content or results of activity
To make students more aware of standard research approaches, TA 200 now uses
Booth, Williams and Colomb's The Craft of Research to provide a foundation in general
research methodologies before presenting particular approaches prevalent in theatre and
media performance research. The department has hired a new faculty member, film
scholar Alison McKee, with major responsibilities in the graduate program.
5. Spring 2007 Performance Data: Describe the direct assessment (performance) data that
were collected spring 2007 (‘C’ in Spr07 column of Table 2), how much and by whom.
SLO
#4
C
#5
C
#6
C
#7
C
Content or results of activity
Reading Response Essays, by McKee in TA 201 according to syllabus guidelines. In TA
201 students demonstrate their ability to identify historical, cognitive, aesthetic, and
cultural realities governing the development of the performing arts by writing response
papers that summarize and assess the development of individual schools of critical theory
relevant to the performing arts (articles assigned by instructor). On this assignment 33%
of students received an A, 25% of students received an A-, 25% of students received a
B+, and 17% of students received a B.
Research Paper, by Todd in TA 220 according to syllabus guidelines. TA/ENG 220,
students were called upon to do extensive research, both primary and secondary, on a
subject relevant to the course material and topic; to engage and synthesize this material
using analytical-critical methods; and to write a term paper that employs the manifesto
format as a lens through which to examine performance and production.
On this assignment, 10% of the students received an A, 25% an A-, 20% a B, 15% a Band 30% an Incomplete, not yet having finished the assignment.
Formal class presentation assignments by McKee in TA 201 according to syllabus
guidelines. In TA 201 students demonstrate effective pedagogical strategies and teaching
effectiveness through individual in-class oral presentations of key concepts in assigned
scholarly articles relevant to critical theory in the performing arts. On this assignment,
17% of students received an A, 42% of students received an A-. 33% received a B+, and
8% received a B.
Final grades for production related coursework by Kahn: must be collected and reviewed
in fall.
6. Spring 2007 Indirect Measurement (if any): Describe the indirect assessment data that
were collected (‘C’ in Spr07 column of Table 2),
SLO #
#6
C
Content or results of activity
GA/TA teaching evaluation by Kahn: not available for review until fall.
Revised 1/9/08
Page 2 of 3
Please report assessment activities completed in the fall 2007 semester (collect data, analyze
data, discuss results among faculty, or implement changes. This table should match planned
activities for fall 2007 in Table 2.
C=Collect data D=Discuss data among faculty I=implement program changes based on data
SLO
#4
D
#5
#6
D
D
#7
D
#8
I
#9
I
Content or results of activity
Graduate srtudent mastery of fundamental research skills continues to be a challenge.
Faculty will take a closer look at 1) the admissions standards for acceptance to the
program, 2) increased requirement of research-oriented coursework as precondition for
admission, and 3) increased use of the “first year review” as a method of informing
students of deficiencies in these areas.
See SLO 4 above.
Review of Teaching Evaluations show that students enrolled in the MA degree program
are making significant contributions as instructors in TA 05 and as readers/teaching
assistants in RTVF 77, 81, 110, 175, 181 and 188.
Graduate students involved in production related coursework were uniformly successful in
completing course requirements. Anecdotal evidence from faculty directors confirms that
the graduate students provide creative leadership in performance and production.
Students still continue to struggle with completion of TA 260 (Thesis Proposal). The
program has implemented a more formal approach to this class which now meets in
regularly scheduled sessions with ever more clearly defined benchmarks for successful
completion of a Thesis Proposal acceptable to the Department Graduate Committee.
Students who complete the Master’s program are continuing to gain admission to doctoral
programs where they are achieving demonstrated success and reporting that they feel
extremeley well-prepared for advanced-level research.
Please describe how the activities planned for the spring 2008 semester will be executed.
Spring 2008 assessment plan
(should match schedule in Table 2):
SLO
Execution of plan
All
C
Full Program Review for TRFT Department and for Theatre Arts (BA and MA) in
conjunction with National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) ten year accreditation
review will demand the priority attention of the faculty. Since we’ve simultaneously
completed our full round of SLO, overall Program Review provides an opportune moment
to evaluate and discuss learning objectives, assessment measurement processes and
recommended changes.
#1
C
#4-7
I
Graduate faculty will monitor changes discussed under SLO#4 above.
Revised 1/9/08
Page 3 of 3