Assessment plan for General Biology/Principles of Biology/Environmental Science/
and other science courses fulfilling the general education requirements.
Syllabi Addendum
1. “This course (General Biology/Principles of Biology/Environmental Science/ and
other science courses that fulfill general education requirements) satisfies the
general education requirements of East Central College.”
2. State-Level Goals that the course addresses:
This course (General Biology/Principles of Biology/Environmental Science/ and
other science courses that fulfill general education requirements) fulfills the
following state-mandated general education goals: Higher-Order Thinking and
Managing Information (skill area competencies) and Life and Physical Sciences
requirements (knowledge area competency).
3. Specific learning outcomes for the subject.
4. Mandatory components of common departmental syllabi:
a. Course description as found in East Central College course catalog.
b. Pre or co requisites
c. Required materials
d. Instructor Contact Information
e. Tentative schedule
f. Grade distribution and scale
g. Assessments used
i. Pre- and post-test
h. Students rights and responsibilities
i. ADA disclaimer
Course of Action
To be addressed through departmental & division meetings:
1. Standardize the syllabi with above mentioned additions and improvements.
2. Formulation of common departmental exams (pre- and post-tests)
a. Approximately 20 questions
3. Design a tool to assess the following skill area competencies: Higher-Order
Thinking and Managing Information
4. Develop a standardized exam to be administered biennially that is equivalent to a
nationally standardized exam in the subject area
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5. Biennial administration of nationally standardized exam (e.g., CLEP or AP
Biology) or an equivalent exam developed internally
6. Course portfolio to be reviewed biennially will include but is not limited to the
following variables:
Some of the following components could be developed for a representative sample of
students.
a. Pre-test and post-test scores
i. Comparison of pre - & post-test scores per sample
ii. Comparison of pre - & post-test scores for aggregate
b. Class capacity
c. Time of day class offered
d. Length of each class section
e. Miscellaneous
i. Student conduct
ii. Attitude
iii. Participation
iv. Attendance
v. Student preparation (reading, writing, and mathematics placement
exams)
vi. Review of student performance in all the courses the student was
enrolled in during the assessment semester
7. Reporting and review of outcomes
a. Annual reporting
i. Pre- and post-test reporting and item analysis
ii. Use of above information to improve program and learning
outcomes
b. Biennial course and program review
i. Course portfolio
ii. Pre- and post-test reporting and item analysis
iii. Review of existing course and program structure
iv. Results of nationally standardized exam or an equivalent exam
developed internally
v. Use of above information to improve program and learning
outcomes
Yearly or biennial review of state-mandated skill area & knowledge area competencies at
course & program level.
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