OATdb Archive

2009 - 2010

Health MED

Goal
Research Skills
The student will demonstrate competency in research and writing.

Objective
Research Knowledge
MED Health students will be able to develop a research proposal for an area of study of their choice.

Indicator
Written Proposal
A common embedded portion of HED 574 (Research Seminar) will require students to develop and present a proposal for a research project/assignment developed by the faculty. 

Criterion
Success Rate
A common rubric developed by the faculty will be used to assess the written proposal assignment. The written proposal will be evaluated on the following:
1. Content
2. Writing (grammar, spelling)
3. Organization/flow/clarity
4. APA formatting
5. Creativity

The presentation portion will be evaluated on the following:
1. Presentation style
2. Organization of information/material (PPT slides, etc.)
3. General knowledge of material
4. Creativity
5. Time requirement 


Finding
Research
90% of the students correctly met the target, 10% of the students exceeded the target on the written proposal and oral presentation assignment.  We are discussing adding a current literature review that  would require independent research into a topic and the literature evaluated for its appropriate conclusions and methodology.  This literature review should lead the student to formulate a research question.

Action
Research
After a review of student performance on the embedded research assignment, students met or exceeded the target. Therefore, the program faculty will identify and set a new goal for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Goal
Critical Thinking Skills
Critical Thinking will be emphasized in the Health MED Program.

Objective
Applying Critical Thinking
MED Health students will be able to apply health education principles and practices using critical thinking skills.

Indicator
Critical Thinking
A common embedded portion of Health graduate courses assignments/projects, developed by the faculty, will require students to demonstrate and apply critical thinking skills of Health education competencies. 


Criterion
Assessing Critical Thinking
Students must score at least 80% correct on all common embedded critical thinking assignments/projects.


Finding
Critical Thinking
85% of the students exceeded the 80% target on the common embedded critical thinking skills assessments and 15% of the students met the target.

Action
Critical Thinking
After a review of student performance on the embedded critical thinking skills, the students met or exceeded the target. However, 15% still did not meet the goal.  The weak areas appeared to be in the use of logic and deductive reasoning.

Goal
Aging And Health Promotion
Aging and the impact on health education will be emphasized in the Health MED Program.

Objective
Aging Trends
Students in the Health MA program will be able investigate the opportunities and the limitations facing the elderly regarding health care and special health needs.

Indicator
Interviewing The Elderly
A common embedded assignment in HED 565, Aging and Health Promotion developed by the faculty requires the students to conduct at least two interviews with elderly individuals. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the assignment.
1. Must conduct at least two interviews with the elderly
2. Prepare questions for the interviews
3. Write and submit a 3-4 page reaction paper which describes the life of     older Americans based on your interviews 
4. Document who and where you visited 

Criterion
Aging Assessment
Students must correctly address the four elements (outlined in the indicator) in the common assignment on interviewing the elderly/aging.

Finding
Aging
90% of the students met the target on this aging assessment.  10% of the students exceeded the target. 

Action
Aging
After a review of the student performance on the aging interview assignment, the students met or exceeded the target. The program faculty will identify and set a new goal for the 2010-2011 academic year.  We are leaning toward requiring a brochure for those who work with individuals of varying ages to address health care and special health needs for individuals of a given age.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement After reviewing all of the findings, students met or exceeded the target in the areas of research, critical thinking, and aging and health promotion. The program faculty will identify and set new goals for the 2010-2011 academic year.  At this point, the assignments will include: a current literature review into a topic that ultimately leads to the formulation of a research question; critical thinking exercises will focus on logic and deductive reasoning; and a brochure for those who work with individuals of varying ages to address health care and special health needs for individuals of a given age.