PBA Home > Institutional Research & Analysis > Outcomes Assessment > Unit Summaries > Department of Geography

Department of Geography

In some summaries of assessment activity, goals are referred to by number(e.g., K-2 is knowledge goal 2).

In 1989-90, the department developed a special exit exam intended toassess all of its goals simultaneously. The exam was pre-tested duringfall 1990 but did not meet expectations. Instead, assessment questionswere developed for several of the goals and embedded in the final examsof advanced courses. For each goal, the responses of senior majors in thesecourses were scored on a 7-point scale (1=very poor, 4=average, 7=superior).For each course, at least two faculty members developed the embedded questionsand scored the students' answers.

In 1990-91, three goals were evaluated. Each year through 1992-93 thenumber of goals assessed and courses included in the assessment programincreased. By 1992-93 assessment involved seven of the eight goals. Mostyears, half or more of the students achieved ratings of 5-7 ("above average"to "superior") on each goal and less than 20% were given ratings below"average" (ratings of 1-3) on any goal. The percentage receiving ratingsof 6 or 7 has risen over the years.

The 1994-95 report notes that there are still too many "average" performanceson goals K-1 and S-3, and that the department needs to concentrate on theseareas, arguably the most difficult for undergraduates.

In 1995-96, the department noted that "embedded questions" procedurewas becoming a less effective assessment instrument because an increasingproportion of upper division courses are using final projects and papersrather than final exams. This trend reflects the broader shifts towardcritical thinking and creative work in the department and College. Theseshifts also fulfill the increasing departmental interest in goal S3 (skillin geographic synthesis). The department re-exaimned this issue in 1996-97,and decided to allow faculty members to experiment with other methods ofassessment while still reporting performance on the same 7-point scale.The embedded question method will be used again in 1997-98, but we willcontinue to experiment to find methods of assessment that are more appropriateto performance on projects rather than exams.

Three courses used the embedded questions procedure in 1996-97, withquestions embedded in exams, and three courses scored students on a varietyof projects. For each course, at least two faculty members developed theembedded questions or discussed the projects, and scored the students'answers.

The results from 1996-97 were:

GOAL	FOCUS	% rated 5-7	% rated 7 (highest)
K1	Space	88	6
K2	Distribution	72	29
K3	Themes	90	14
K4	Principles	72	29
S1	Geog. Skills	56	4
S2	Gen. Skills	54	7
S3	Applications	54	11

Senior geography majors are generally achieving the goals assessed.Departmental grading standards overall remained strict.

The Department offered a Geography Awareness Week program featuringa film/discussion series, sponsored a Career Night program, and developeda new academic and career advising program for majors that involved allfaculty members. The senior honors program has been increased in size andquality.

L:\www\outcomes\units\geog.htm
Last updated October 31, 2000

Last revision 07/12/02