OATdb Archive - Sam Houston State University

OATdb Archive

2014 - 2015

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. The initial test will be an Online Grammar-Spelling-Punctuation Module administered at the beginning of the term. The test may be administered again at the close of the semester. Tenure faculty working in conjunction with the SHSU's Instructional Technology Department created the test in 2013.

Criterion

Writing Skills Exam In MCOM 1332

Students will show significant improvement in basic writing skills. At least 80% of students in MCOM 1332 will score 75 or better (out of 100) on the online writing skills exam administered at the end of the semester. Tenured faculty who have taught this class decided that a grade of 75 was an acceptable level of writing skills for this introductory class.

Finding

Rate Of Students With 75 Or Better On Writing Skills Exam

Faculty monitoring the exam scores demonstrated that more than 90% of students passed the writing exam with a 75 or better out of 100 in the Fall and Spring semesters.

Action

Continue Writing Skills Exam

The percentage of students who passed the Writing Skills Exam was consistent with the criterion. The faculty will continue to enroll all MCOM 1332 students into the writing skills module and require the students to take the writing skills exam to demonstrate appropriate writing skills.

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 Pre/Post Test - 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

Compared to the Pre-test, students in MCOM 4371 will show significant improvement in their scores on the Post-test and 80% will score 75 or better (out of 100).

Finding

Post-test Results

Post-test results indicate that there were significant improvements compared to the Pre-test and that more than 90% of the students scored 75 or better out of 100. Two questions were problematic, and both were related to media law as applied to the digital realm.

Action

Update Tests

The Pre/Post Test Diagnositic Exam in MCOM 4371 will again be employed in Fall 2015 and additional questions will be added to the instrument that will assess privacy, copyright and libel in the digital realm.

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 -- in one section of MCOM 2371 -- will score 75 or better (out of 100) on assessment of skill-sets. The instructor in this section of MCOM 2371 rated a video project in terms of framing, editing and lighting skills on a sliding scale (from Unacceptable to Professionally Competent). Production faculty decided that this level of performance measure on the skills test would be appropriate.

Finding

Skill-set Findings

Faculty reported that the assessment was not implemented because they are still discussing logistical concerns regarding the best ways to assess hands-on skills in a lab situation and knowledge-based skills online.

Action

Refine Assessment Analytics

Production faculty will continue to discuss these logistical concerns with the hope of implementing this metric in 2016. Specific attention will be devoted to coordinating reporting of test results in Blackboard and on students' transcripts.

Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement The Pre/Post Test Diagnostic in MCOM 4371 was updated with additional questions assessing privacy, etc. in digital media. Faculty also introduced new content on these topics into the course.

The online writing skills module went into its second year of development. All students taking MCOM 1332 were registered to take the module and were required to pass the test to progress in the major. Faculty worked with the registrar to facilitate getting student scores into the system. Some students' scores were not properly entered into Banner in the Fall, but the issue was fixed in the Spring.

MCOM 2371 assessment was not implemented because of difficulties with logistical issues.

Now that the writing model procedure has been successfully implemented, the production faculty plan to proceed with the beta-version assessment for MCOM 2371.

MCOM 2351 History of Film will be presented for consideration into the core by the curriculum committee. The forms have been written for the course and are awaiting consideration by the core curriculum committee.

Plan for continuous improvement The MCOM Department will continue to require students to successuflly complete the online writing module prior to registering for advanced classes in the major.

Faculty will implement a similar system for transfer students who have received credit for a class equivalent to MCOM 1332.

Now that the writing module procedures are in place, the MCOM production faculty will proceed with the Beta-version assessment for MCOM 2371.

Additional questions for the MCOM 4371 Pre/Post Test will be fashioned and will be introduced in Fall 2015. New lecture content and screenings will be introduced into the class dealing with legal challenges in the digital realm.

If the History of Film course is adopted into the core curriculum, the department will offer the course and will make necessary scheduling adjustments to meet the demand for the course.

In 2015 the MCOM Department will add a new goal. This goal will monitor the professional internship program in order to assess how well the department is preparing students to effectively compete for jobs in the emerging mass media marketplace. Senior faculty will meet to discuss appropriate Indicators, Criteria, etc.