OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Mass Communication BA

Goal

Student Professional Preparation

To graduate students who are prepared to enter the media marketplace

Objective

Writing Skills

The MCM Department will graduate students with demonstrated writing skills.

Indicator

Assessment By Writing Skills Exam

Students in MCM 132 will be tested at the beginning and at the end of the semester to assess the development of their writing skills. The initial diagnostic test consisted of 100 multiple-choice questions on punctuation, word usage, tense and spelling. The follow-up test was also multiple-choice.

Criterion

Writing Skills Exam

At least 75% of students in various sections of MCM 132 will show improvement in their writing skills.

Finding

Writing Test in MCM 132

Ninety percent of the students in two sections of MCM 132 (30 of 33) showed improvement in writing skills. However nearly every student had difficulty with questions related to the use of verb tense and active voice as applied to the different forms of writing for various media.

Action

Review Of Instrument

Faculty teaching sections of MCM 132 have agreed to review the testing instrument with the goal of creating a more effective testing procedure. Students with basic grammar, punctuation and voice difficulties will be referred to Sam Houston State's Writing Center. Short quizzes on grammar, punctuation, tense and voice will be developed for implementation during the first half of each semester in all sections of MCM 132.

Goal

Knowledge Of Media Law & Ethics

To graduate students who understand the basic concepts of media law and ethics

Objective

Knowledge Of Specific Legal Concepts & Theories

The MCM Department will graduate students who can use specific concepts and theories to assess First Amendment, copyright, privacy and libel issues.

Indicator

Assessment By Exit Exam--Media Law & Ethics

Graduating seniors will take an exit exam that measures their knowledge of the First Amendment, copyright, privacy and libel. The exam tested students on specific case law and on general principles related to the First Amendment, copyright, privacy and libel. The test consisted of 33 multiple-choice or true false or matching questions. Questions addressed specific precedent cases (Johnson v TX) and more general legal issues (First Amendment and emerging journalistic pratice).

Criterion

Exit Exam -- Law & Ethics

At least 75% of the graduating seniors will score 75 or better (out of 100) on the Mass Media Law & Ethics Exit Exam.

Finding

Results Of Exit Exam -- Media Law & Ethics

Eighty-six percent (18 out of 21) of seniors scored 75 (out of 100) or better on the Exit Exam on Media Law & Ethics. This review indicates that students scored lower on questions that addressed specific precedent-setting cases.

Action

Media Law & Ethics

The MCM Department will continue using this Exit Exam as an assessment instrument in MCM 471 (Mass Media Law & Ethics). The Chair will meet with the faculty member assigned to this class and help develop assignments to be presented during the semester that focus on specific precedent-setting case law. A new text that provides more specific and current case law related to the mass media will be reviewed and considered.

Goal

Global Media Systems And Information Economies

To graduate students who are familiar with global media systems and information economies

Objective

Knowledge Of Specific Global Concepts & Theories

The MCM Department will graduate students who can use specific concepts and theories to assess global media systems and information economies.

Indicator

Assessment By Exit Exam --Global Media

Graduating seniors will take an exit exam that measures their knowledge of concepts and theories used to appraise global media systems and information economies.

Criterion

Exit Exam -- Global Media

At least 75% of the students will score 75 or better (out of 100) on the Global Media Exit Exam.

Finding

Results Of Exit Exam -- Global Media

Eighty-nine percent of seniors scored 75 (out of 100) or better on the exams on Global Media issues. A mid-term exam, a final exam and a term paper were incorporated to a senior assessment instrument. Students were more successful with the term paper and with facts and figures in the testing instruments. They had more trouble with general questions in the testing instruments about emerging developments in the global media marketplace.

Action

Global Media

With the Chair, the two faculty who teach MCM 493 will design new reading assignments and new measurement procedures that address issues related to general, emerging developments in the global marketplace.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement Three areas central to the Mass Communication Department?s BA curriculum were reviewed: writing skills, mass media law and global media topics. Each area was assessed in terms of specific learning outcomes. The department recognizes that competence in basic writing skills across a variety of media is essential in the contemporary marketplace; that knowledge of abiding and emerging legal issues is increasingly important to any journalistic/media enterprise; and that issues related to the global media marketplace are increasingly important in the production, distribution and reception of print, electronic and digital materials.

Regarding assessment of writing skills, testing identified one specific problem area (use of tense and voice) that will be addressed by implementing quizzes specifically designed to hone writing skills related to tense and voice. The introductory writing classes have recently been taught by four or five different faculty and as a result problems with standardization of the course has arisen. Adjustments in pedagogical strategy will help remedy this problem. The Chair will meet with faculty who teach these classes and work toward more standardization of the introductory writing classes. The class text will be reviewed and faculty who teach these classes will convene at the August faculty retreat to discuss standardization issues.

Regarding mass media law, testing will continue and special attention will be given to students? knowledge of case law. Emphasis will be placed on relating case law to case law related to current legal decisions ? and these topics then will be contextualized with more general legal principles. Faculty teaching mass media law classes will meet with the Chair on an annual basis to review updated examples of case law. Moreover a new mass media law text -- with increased examples of recent case law -- will be adopted in the Fall 2009 Semester.

Regarding global media, for the first time the assessment instrument was administered in an advanced class in global media (as opposed to a senior seminar class). This is a preferable strategy in that testing during the senior seminar often involved testing students on global media issues even though they had not yet completed a global media class. The assessment was adequate but will be adjusted for 2009-2010. For the first time, two sections of the global media class will be offered.