RCTC Assessment of Student Learning

September 10, 2002

Pilot Assessment Minutes

Present:              Don Baldus, Bonnie Flaig, Jim Stegge, Marilyn Treder, Tammy Lee

Agenda:            1.  Discuss department needs of the pilot assessment projects

2.      Discuss assessment of a college-wide “Critical Thinking” assessment pilot.

Pilot Assessment Project:

§         The English department plans to administer the ACT CAAP “Essay (pre/post exams) to 108 students (four sections of English 1117).  Pre tests will be ordered on Wednesday, September 11, and administered by the end of September.  Results of the exam will be available within 10-15 days.  A post exam will then be administered in early December. 

Needs: 

1.       Purchase of 108 CAAP “Essay” pre and post exams

2.      Order (10) preview copies of the CAAP “Essay” exam to share at the English department meeting on September 24^th.

§         The math department has developed an elementary algebra problem that will evaluate students’ ability to set up and solve word problems. Pre and post exams will be given throughout the fall semester in 7or 8 sections ( approximately 300 students)  enrolled in Math 0098.

Needs:

1.      None at this time.

§         The science department plans to administer pre/post WebCT exam questions that will evaluate students’ ability to perform statistical and graphical analysis.  They plan to target second year science students.  Implementation of the pilot assessment will take place during Spring 2003 when the sample size of second year science students is greater.

Needs:

1.      None at this time.

Critical Thinking Pilot

Team members recommended forming a subgroup of members responsible for developing a college-wide pilot assessment for critical thinking. This subgroup would be responsible for:

§         Reviewing “best practices” implemented by other colleges (Anne and Tammy will provide examples)

§         Developing a common rubric to assess critical thinking competencies

§         Evaluate student work using a “common rubric”

 Don Baldus, Teresa Brown, and Virginia Wright Peterson were recommended to be part of this subcommitte.  Anne and Tammy will contact them to see if they are interested in participating.  The committee suggested payment of a small stipend to these members for the additional time required to develop this pilot.