Motlow State Community College
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Use of Assessment Results
Fall Semester 2011
Program Title: General Education, University Parallel Major
Course: MUSA 1030 – Music Appreciation
Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to
1. Analyze significant primary texts and works of art, ancient, pre- modern, and modern as forms
of cultural and creative expression.
2. Explain the ways in which humanistic and / or artistic expression throughout the ages expresses
the culture and values of its time and place.
3. Explore global/ cultural diversity.
4. Frame a comparative context through which they can critically assess the ideas, forces, and
values that have created the modern world.
5. Recognize the ways in which both change and continuity have affected human history.
6. Practice the critical and analytical methodologies of the Humanities and/ or Fine Arts.
Performance Measure(s): Pre-test, Post-test using online instrument
Effectiveness Standard: Students will demonstrate 60% mastery or an incremental gain of 10% on prepost test questions which are based on the TBR Student Learning Outcomes for Humanities.
Assessment Results:
Question
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Q6
Q7
Q8
Q9
Q10
Q11
SLO #
6
2,6
2,6
1,2,3,5
1,2,3,5
1,2,3,5
1,2,6
2,6
1,2,3,6
1,2,3
1,2,3,5
PreTest
#
Correct
79
83
61
36
48
45
10
33
49
35
48
PreTest
%
Correct
68%
72%
53%
31%
41%
39%
9%
28%
42%
30%
41%
PostTest
#
Correct
69
65
67
63
51
58
30
21
44
48
31
PostTest
%
Correct
70%
66%
68%
64%
52%
59%
31%
21%
45%
49%
32%
%
Standard
Difference
Met?
2%
Y
-5%
N
16%
Y
33%
Y
11%
Y
20%
Y
22%
Y
-7%
N
3%
N
19%
Y
-10%
N
Q12
Q13
Q14
Q15
Q16
Q17
Q18
Q19
Q20
1
1,3,5
1,6
1,3,6
6
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4,5
1,6
3,6
69
47
53
38
60
52
58
25
33
59%
41%
46%
33%
52%
45%
50%
22%
28%
71
55
56
32
50
50
57
23
32
72%
56%
57%
33%
51%
51%
58%
23%
33%
13%
16%
11%
0%
-1%
6%
8%
2%
4%
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
116 students completed the pre-test and 98 students completed the post-test.
Use of Assessment Results:
Based on the assessment results, there are several areas that need to be addressed in the music
assessment process. It should be noted that this was the first year for the online grading and it was the
first year that only a sample of the students were included in the assessment. The department also feels
that students do not always take seriously things that do not affect their grades.
Of the 20 questions on the test 10 of those did not meet the standards, but considering that the SLO’s
were addressed in multiple questions, only 1 SLO was not met. ( # 4)Standards for the other SLO’s were
met in some questions, but not others.
A meeting with the full time faculty in music was held to discuss the results and establish a plan for
improvement. The following was determined:



Careful consideration of the instrument and type of assessment will be studied.
Greater communication of the SLO’s will be given to adjunct faculty.
A meeting of all music faculty is planned for February 2012 to discuss and determine the best
way to address these concerns.
Follow-Up
The music faculty met on March 20, 2013 to discuss the assessment results and to make decisions for
improving the results. The meeting was originally planned for February of 2012, but that meeting was
not held. A personnel change in the full time faculty delayed the meeting.
The assessment instruments will be redesigned prior to the next time the assessment is administered.
The minutes are included below.
Present at the meeting: Debbie Zimmerman, David Bethea, John Edmondson, and Jon Hand
Not present: Mike Hodge and Ben Jobe
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and evaluate the General Education MUSA 1030 pre-post
test assessment results. Faculty were provided with the Program Student Learning Outcomes Use of
Assessment Results, Fall Semester 2012 report, the MUSA 1030 pre-post test and the Tennessee Board
of Regents Proposal for the Establishment of a Lower Division General Education Core report.
The next General Education Assessment for MUSA 1030 takes place in the fall 2013 semester.

Ms. Zimmerman explained that the state requires core curriculum courses to be assessed to
ascertain that Student Learning Outcomes are being met. She explained the SLO’s required by
TBR. The results show that there is a 60% mastery met in all questions except question #10 and
# 19 on the pre-post test. Ms. Zimmerman wants faculty to “take it seriously”. Faculty should
encourage their students to take the test. She suggested that faculty take their classes to a
computer lab during class, on the first day of classes. Ms. Zimmerman explained that in the past,
testing was done in class using Scantron sheets, but that it proved to be too expensive. She also
said that the department has the option of changing their testing to the embedded format. The
consensus of the group was to use the current method of pre-post testing for the General
Education Assessment.

Discussion followed regarding the current MUSA 1030 pre-post test. Dr. Bethea, Mr. Hand and
Mr. Edmondson agreed that the current pre-post test is inadequate in reflecting the
achievement of students. Dr. Bethea suggested that the Music Department recreate a new prepost test. Mr. Hand and Mr. Edmondson concurred. Dr. Bethea provided 100 test sample
questions for faculty to review. Camilla will email them to music faculty not present at the
meeting. Ms. Zimmerman instructed them to review the questions and send their ideas for a
new test to Dr. Bethea.
Other business:

Dr. Bethea suggested that a new textbook be adopted. He likes McGraw Hill, Connect Music. Per
Ms. Zimmerman’s instructions, music faculty will review the textbook and send their appraisals
of it to Dr. Bethea.

Ms. Zimmerman pointed out the QEP rubrics for music. Each question was discussed. Ms.
Zimmerman likes the music modules. Dr. Bethea, Mr. Edmondson, and Mr. Hand concurred. All
agreed that it is a good module. Ms. Zimmerman explained that it will now be optional to use
QEP modules. Mr. Hand has already used them this semester.

Ms. Zimmerman shared with faculty a change from Academic Affairs concerning MUSA 1030,
Music Appreciation. Learning Support students will now be allowed to take this course.
Respectfully submitted by Camilla Daniel