OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2012 - 2013

Mass Communication BA

Goal

Writing Skills Development

To graduate students who are prepared to enter the media marketplace

Objective

Writing Skills

MCOM graduates will demonstrate appropriate writing skills with emphasis given to grammar, structure, organization, clarity, fluency, and style.

Indicator

Assessment By Writing Skills Exam

Students in MCOM 1332 will be tested to assess development of their writing skills over the course of the semester. The initial test will be an essay administered at the beginning of the term, which will be followed by a second essay at the close of the semester. This procedure will allow instructors to assess improvement in writing skills. Students will be expected to demonstrate improvement in grammar, structure, organization, clarity, fluency, and style.

Criterion

Writing Skills Exam In MCOM 1332

At least 80% of students in various sections of MCOM 1332 will score 75 or better (out of 100) on a writing skills exam.

Finding

Writing Skills Exam Results

In two sections of MCOM 1332 a total of 40 students got writing assignments (news article, press release and broadcast script) that were each graded on a scale of 0-100 points. The instructor averaged these grades. Thirty-four (85%) of the students averaged 75 or better on these three writing assignments.

Action

Supplemental Assessment Of Writing Skills

Assessment of writing skills in MCOM 1332 has been problematic. Some years in some sections objectives were met. Some years in some sections objectives were not met. To more effectively standardize course content in the course, the MCOM Department will design an online module for grammar, spelling and style that will be required for all MCOM majors who take MCOM 1332.

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

MCOM graduates will demonstrate a working knowledge of legal concepts and theories (First Amendment, copyright, privacy, libel, etc.) as they apply to emerging legal matters specific to the practice of journalism, radio, television, film and public relations.

Indicator

Assessment By Exit Exam--Media Law & Ethics

All students in MCOM 4371 took a Pre/Post Diagnositic Exam. The exam tested students on general principles related to the First Amendment, copyright, privacy and libel with new emphasis on the digital environs.

Criterion

Diagnostic Exam -- Media Law & Ethics

At least 80% of the graduating seniors will score 75 or better (out of 100) on the Mass Media Law & Ethics Diagnostic Exam.

Finding

Results Of Diagnostic Exam

Eighty-two percent (56 of 68) of the students in MCOM 4371 scored at least 75 (out of 100) on the Diagnostic Exam. More than half the students got questions wrong regarding copyright in the digital environs and obscenity in the digital environs.

Action

Continued Assessment Of MCOM 4371

Additional lectures, assignments and Blackboard postings on Copyright and Obscenity in the digital environs will be introduced into this class.

Goal

Development Of Video Production Skills

To graduate students who are familiar with basic, professional hands-on video production skills (camera use, editing, framing, visual story-telling).

Objective

Development Of Video Production Skills.

The MCOM Department will graduate students who are proficient with video production equipment and familiar with general, hands-on professional production skills.

Indicator

Assessment By Skill-set -- MCOM 2371 TV & Film Production

Final video projects by students in MCOM 2371 will be assessed by instructor in regards to specific production skills (framing, editing, lighting).

Criterion

Assessment By Skill-set-- MCOM 2371 TV & Film Production

At least 80% of the students -- combined from two sections of MCOM 2371 -- will score 75 or better (out of 100) on assessment of skill-sets. The instructor rated individual framing, editing and lighting skills on a sliding scale (from Unacceptable to Professionally Competent) and translated into final grades on a 100 point scale (A, B, C, D, F).

Finding

Assessment By Skill-set In MCOM 2371

Eighty-one percent of the students (30 of 37) in the two sections of MCOM 2371 were graded 75 (out of 100) or above on the skill-sets exhibited in their final projects.

Action

Assessment Of TV & Film Skill-sets

MCOM 2371 will be taught by a new hire in the upcoming academic year; therefore this same skill-set assessment will be employed and the new hire will be instructued to further standardize the assessment instrument so that graduate student Assitant Instructures will be able to take over the teaching responsibilities.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement The Exit Exam employed in MCOM 4371 was adjusted to specifally address issues related to Copyright and Obscenity in the digital environment. A new Diagnostic Exam was created for use in Fall 2013.

Faculty in MCOM 1332 referred students to the SHSU Writing Center if special attention was warrented. One faculty member who teaches MCOM 1332 worked with the Curriculum Committee to fashion an online module that could be used by all students in the class to improve grammar, spelling and punctuation skills.

Two courses -- MCOM 3330 and MCOM 4393 -- were "retired" from the MCOM Core Curriculum due to overall changes in the departmental curriculum. Skill-sets taught in MCOM 3330 were migrated to media-writing classes (MCOM 1332) and MCOM 4393 was offered as an Advanced Elective.

The new faculty member hired to teach both sections of MCOM 2271 is working with the Chair of the department to further standardize the assessment instrument so that (eventually) graduate students can take over the class and offer a uniform curriculum.

The Chair of COM is meeting regularly with the Dean of the College of Mass Communication and Fine Arts to fully integrate MCOM into the new college.

Plan for continuous improvement The new Diagnostic Exam in MCOM 4371 was implemented the first day of class in Fall 2013 and the Post-Test will be administered at semester's end. Due to the ever-changing nature of the digital environment and the parallel developments in mass media law, this Diagnistic Test will be updated every year.

The Online Grammar-Spelling Module developed for MCOM 1332 is being Beta-tested in three sections of the class and the department hopes to have this test as a required feature of all sections of MCOM 1332 by Spring 2014 or -- depending on Beta-test results -- Fall 2014.

Both MCOM 1332 and MCOM 4371 are important classes in the department's Core Curriculum. Assessment of these two classes will continue -- with updated Diagnostics for MCOM 4371 and adjustments to MCOM 1332 as required after this semester's Beta-test.

The new faculty member teaching both sections of MCOM 2271 has submitted his assessment instrument to the Chair and will employ that instrument in the Fall 2013 Semester. With appropriate adjustments, the department will have this instrument available for any graduate students who might teach sections of this course in the 2013-14 Fall-Spring academic year.