dc.contributor.author | California State University, Northridge. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry | en |
dc.date.accessioned | 2017-03-14T22:32:18Z | en |
dc.date.available | 2017-03-14T22:32:18Z | en |
dc.date.created | 2016 | en |
dc.date.issued | 2016 | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/188446 | en |
dc.description | Describe the Chemistry and Biochemistry department's assessment activities for academic year 2015-2016. | en |
dc.description.abstract | The department directly assessed its undergraduate PSLO 1 (basic knowledge in organic and biochemistry) and graduate PSLO 2m (scientific oral communication), while implementing a signature assignment for the longitudinal assessment of undergraduate PSLO 1. Results were analyzed, and loop-closing activities were implemented. A 70 question American Chemical Society standardized exam was administered in CHEM 333 and CHEM 334 (n=59 and n=65, respectively), with 20% of students in CHEM 333 and 19% in CHEM 334 achieving a benchmark score in the 50th percentile or higher. Class averages were in the 26th percentile (CHEM 333) and the 20th percentile (CHEM 334). It is noted that students performed more successfully in classes where the ACS exam questions better reflected course content, as demonstrated in one section of CHEM 333 and one section of CHEM 334 wherein 10 ACS question were embedded in the final exam, whereby 45% and 51%, respectively, achieved the benchmark of 6/10 correct answers. CHEM 333R, a mandatory recitation session, was implemented in AY 2013-14 to address this student learning deficit in organic chemistry, and improvement in student learning is reported in that class. Without any such extra session in CHEM 334, student learning outcomes are reported as static. It is noted that the creation of a CHEM 334R course is not a current option, but digital measures have been undertaken whereby lecture content has been uploaded to Moodle for additional student access to problem solving instruction. YouTube videos have also been crafted to increase instructional opportunities. Additional assessment of PSLO 1 in CHEM 464 (a course for non-majors) via an 8 question ACS test embedded in the final exam, with 63% of students achieving a benchmark of 5 of 8 correctly answered questions. A longitudinal assessment, using 5 ACS questions, was administered in a Spring 2016 section of CHEM 464, with 74% of students (n=31) improving their performance from the quiz administration on day 1 of the class and as embedded in the final exam. Similar assessments in two sections of CHEM 461 involving ACS questions embedded in course finals revealed 68% and 78% of students meeting benchmarks of 5/8 and 7/10 questions answered correctly. It is suggested that in future the entire ACS exam may be administered to see how students compare to the national average. A cross sectional assessment involving a 20 question multiple-choice quiz covering all the subdisciplines of chemistry is also reported, as administered in CHEM 321 (a gateway course) and CHEM 401 (a capstone course). Results of 10.3 correct answers out of 20 and 9.4/20 are reported, with a slight decline in the capstone, repeating the results of 2014-15. Discussion as to the causes for this "unexpected result" is included in the report. The assessment of GSLO 2 took place in 9 literature and 7 thesis seminars via a rubric measuring 5 different categories of student learning. In sum, average scores in every category ranged in the 16-20 point range (excellent), with an overall average of 87.65% —analysis revealing these measures to be higher than those from 2014-15 and 2013-14. Applications of assessment results to student learning improvement include the development of a culminating assignment ("Group Entrepreneurship Project") in CHEM 462. Plans to continue direct gateway/capstone assessments of undergraduate PSLO 1, as well as PSLOs 4, 5, & 6 are noted. | en |
dc.format | application/msword | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | California State University, Northridge | en |
dc.rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States | en |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ | en |
dc.subject | assessment | en |
dc.subject | assessment committee | en |
dc.subject | assessment methods | en |
dc.subject | assessment of student learning | en |
dc.subject | assessment plan | en |
dc.title | The Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S./M.S.) department 2015-16 annual assessment report to the College of Science and Mathematics for the Office of Academic Assessment and Program Review. | en |
dc.type | Report | en |