Los Angeles Valley College
Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Report
Courses and Programs
Discipline: Administration of Justice [AJ]
Department: Emergency Services
Program/Course: AJ 441-First Responders for Homeland Security
Semester/Year: Spring 2013
SLO Representative:
Nicholas Wade
Student Learning Outcome Assessed
Description of Assessment Method
a. Describe the assessment tool (e.g., student
essay, performance, etc.)
b. Describe how the data was analyzed (rubric
elements, etc.). Attach rubric if applicable.
*** Please keep all data for at least 3 years.
Description of Sampling Methodology
a. Course Sections - How many sections of
this course were offered? State if the
sections were offered in the morning
/afternoon /evening/ online. How many
sections were assessed? Describe how
these sections represent the diversity of
students represented in the course.
b. Faculty - How many faculty (part-time and
full-time) taught this course? How many
faculty participated in the SLO assessment
process?
c. Students - How many students in total
were enrolled? How many students were
sampled?
d. Random Selection (If this course offered
more than one section, at least 1/3 of the
total # of students must be assessed) - How
was the random selection process
conducted? (e.g., chose every 3rd student
from roster)
Department Chair: Alan R. Cowen
Students will participate in a scenario that requires them to
use the Incident Command System to resolve the incident
and write a paper for appropriate response.
a. Students will write an essay that pertains to the Incident
Command System (ICS). The essay is to deal with a brush
fire in the southern California area and how they would
handle the incident along with answering specific questions
about the Incident Command System. The students were to
resolve the incident by using the criteria set down in the
Incident Command system. The students wrote their essay
and were graded on how they used the ICS and answered
the specific questions identified on the RUBRIC.
b. Their answers to the scenario were read by the instructor
and graded accordingly using the Rubric.
a. There was only one (1) section offered. This course was
offered in the morning. This was the only section assessed.
b. There was only one part-time faculty member, who taught
and participated in the SLO assessment.
c. There were forty-four students in this course. Forty four
students were sampled.
d. N/A
Collaborative Review
a. N/A
Assessment Results
a. Out of the 44 students assessed, 40 met the requirements
of identifying the Incident Command System and answering
the questions asked about the ICS in the scenario given to
them. Four students were in the category of needing
improvement.
a. Describe the norming process and how
inter-rater reliability was achieved (if
applicable).
a. Describe the relevant findings according to
the criteria set by the assessment tool.
(e.g., report results according to rubric
evaluation criteria)
b. What percentage of students achieved the
SLO?
c. What percentage of students did not
achieve the SLO?
How Results were Used for
Course/Program Improvement
a. Describe how the results are going to be
used for the improvement of teaching,
learning, or institutional effectiveness based
on the data assessed.
b. How do your assessment findings
contribute to the assessment of Program
SLO’s? (To access the program SLO’s http://lavc.edu/slo/programassessment.html
/)
c. Describe how results will be shared with
others in the discipline/area.
Comparison to last SLOAC Cycle Results
(if this is the first time the course was
assessed, leave this section blank)
b. 90%
c. 10%
a. As to teaching improvement, I feel that the current method
that is used is sufficient for the course material.
Class discussion is encouraged, but there is much reluctance
to do this by the majority of students. I utilize power-point
lectures as well as regular lecture presentations when
needed. I find that there are students who can’t afford the
book that is required for the class and give them alternate
sources to get a book, e.g., Internet, library. I have seen
students procrastinate in not reading the required chapters
until the day of the test. I have taken the extra effort to post
the day of any assignment and the chapters to be covered at
the start of the semester. Attendance at time is spotty.
b. The assessment findings will demonstrate the student’s
ability to critically think and communicate clearly. Students
will be able to determine the need to use the Incident
Command system for emergencies beyond normal activity.
c. Results will be shared with other concerned faculty
members during staff department meetings. Although
teaching methods will vary by instructors the course could be
molded to their individual needs.
a. Please state the improvement plan that was
N/A
included in the report from SLOAC Cycle I.
b. What changes were implemented from
Cycle I’s improvement plan? What changes,
if any, were made that were not included in
the improvement plan? What changes, if
any, were made to the assessment
process?
c. How are the results from Cycle II similar to
or different from the results from Cycle I?
Los Angeles Valley College
COURSE LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLO)
Course Name and Number:
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 441
FIRST RESPONDERS FOR HOMELAND SECURITY
Course Objectives:
The course presents the information necessary to understand the role of first responders in the war against terrorism.
Students will identify the common elements of a disaster response and the roles of each first responder in the
response and recovery phase. Course emphasis is on the actions and procedures “at the scene” where decisions are
made using the Incident Command System [ICS] rather than the concepts and policies applied by officials physically
removed from the incident.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome
Students will be able to explain the roles and duties
of first responders in response to terrorist events.
Assessment Measure
Students will participate in scenario based exercises and
write appropriate responses using the Incident Command
System. A rubric will be used
Administration of Justice 441
First Responders for Homeland Security
Fire Threat Scenario for AJ 441
Name___________________________________________Date_________________
This paper, in the Incident Command System (ICS), is a scenario for you to complete to the
best of your ability. You were given a copy of the Incident Command System for review prior to
completing this paper. This paper is to be a minimum of five (5) pages double spaced, but you
can do more if needed. You will be graded in the following areas:
1. Define the ICS?
2. Why was it developed?
3. What are the five basic components of the ICS?
[submit a copy of those basic five components within your paper].
4. What is the ICS designed to do?
5. Essay on mitigating the problem as described in the scenario.
6. Follows direction: five pages, typed double spaced, spelling, grammar and sentence
structure.
THIS PAPER IS DUE THE FIRST CLASS DAY AFTER SPRING BREAK.
This scenario is a situation that might arise either on a small or large scale. You are
designated as the Incident Commander for the scenario. All resources are at your
disposal.
SITUATION: A small brush fire has broken out in the remote hills north of the San Fernando
Valley at 1300 hours on Monday the 1st of November. The Santa Ana winds are blowing very
hard from the Northeast. The fire initially covers 10 acres, but with the winds blowing hard the
fire is expanding at a rate of 20 acres every half hour and is now heading towards populated
areas. You are now 2 hours into the problem. The fire is moving through state, county and city
property. What should you be doing to mitigate this growing problem? Please attach this form
with your paper.
Los Angeles Valley College
Emergency Services Department
ADMINSTRATION OF JUSTICE 441
First Responders for Homeland Security
Assessment is based on the RUBRIC below. Students were asked to write a paper on the Incident Command System (ICS).
The paper was to deal with a brush fire in the southern California area and how they would handle the problem along with
answering questions about the Incident Command System.
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
POINT VALUES
15 POINTS
15 POINTS
20 POINTS
15 POINTS
ELEMENTS OF THE ESSAY
Define the Incident Command System?
[When local agencies are unable to handle
large incidents, an ICS will be established
with surrounding agencies and
incorporating mutual aid.]
Why was the Incident Command System
developed? [As a result of rural fires in
California that could not be handled on a
local basis.]
What are the five basic components of
Incident Command System?
[Incident Commander, Operations,
Logistics, Finance, Planning.]
What is the Incident Command System
designed to do? [Designed to coordinate
federal, state & local agencies in
emergencies.]
20 POINTS
Essay on mitigating the problem as
described in the scenario.
15 POINTS
Follows Direction: [Five pages, typed
double spaced, spelling, grammar and
sentence structure.]
100 POINTS
TOTAL
EXEMPLARY
ACCEPTABLE
A-B
100 – 80%
C
NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT
D-F
79 – 70%
69 – 0%
15-12
11-8
7-0
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
15-12
11-8
7-0
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
20-15
14-10
9-0
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
15-12
11-8
7-0
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
20-15
14-10
9-0
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
15-12
11-8
7-0
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
STUDENT RESULTS
Essay Assessment
Define the Incident Command System? [15 pts]
Why was the Incident Command System developed? [15pts]
What are the five basic components of Incident Command System? [20 pts]
What is the Incident Command System designed to do? [15 pts]
Essay on mitigating the problem as described in the scenario. [20 pts]
Follows Direction [15 pts]
[POSSIBLE 100 POINTS]
Rev: May 2013
EXEMPLARY
ACCEPTABLE
A-B
100-80%
C-D
79-60%
NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT
F
59-0%
40
4
STUDENTS
STUDENTS