Students completing core education in geography will be able to demonstrate foundational knowledge of geographic principles and concepts about the physical world.
Objective
First-Year Foundational Geographical Principles And Concepts
Students completing core curriculum education in geography will be able to demonstrate foundational knowledge of geographic concepts and principles, including critical thinking.
Indicator
Comprehensive Final Exam
Common embedded questions on the comprehensive final exam will determine student knowledge regarding general geographic concepts.
Criterion
70% Accuracy
The average scores will be 70% correct on the general geographic concept questions embedded in the comprehensive exam.
Finding
Performance On General Geographic Concept Questions
Students enrolled in GEOG 1401 (previously GEOG 1301) averaged 59% on a series of specific concept questions embedded in a comprehensive final exam. Students enrolled in GEOG 1321 averaged 76% on a separate, yet very similar, series of concept questions. Scores for GEOG 1401 students were consistent with overall overages on the respective final exams, while scores for GEOG 1321 students were actually noticeably higher that final exam averages. The scores among students enrolled in GEOG 1401 were slightly lower than those from the previous year, although the scores among those enrolled in GEOG 1321 once again improved slightly.
Indicator
Comprehensive Final Exam - Geographic Principles Portion
The final faculty-developed comprehensive exam will indicate students' grasp of major geographic principles, including critical thinking.
Criterion
70% Principle Accuracy
The average score will be 70% correct of the major geographic principles and critical thinking items embedded on the comprehensive exam.
Finding
Performance On Questions Pertaining To Major Geographic Concepts And Critical Thinking
Students enrolled in GEOG 1401 averaged 60% on a series of questions focused on competency with major principles and critical thinking skills that were embedded in a comprehensive exam. Students enrolled in GEOG 1321 averaged 72% on a similar series of questions. Students enrolled in both courses consistently scored lower than expected on questions requiring the interpretation of graphs and charts, but scores for both courses did improve, particularly in the case of GEOG 1401. Students enrolled in GEOG 1401 averaged 57% on such questions, while students enrolled in GEOG 1321 averaged 68%. Students enrolled in both courses scored significantly lower than expected on questions requiring the interpretation of basic statistics, although scores for GEOG 1321 students improved significantly from the previous year. Students enrolled in GEOG 1401 averaged 52% on such questions, while those enrolled in GEOG 1321 averaged 59% on them.
Action
Improving Geographical Understanding Of Concepts And Principles
Students enrolled in GEOG 1321 continue to improve in regards to the level of competency in basic geographic concepts, major geographic concepts and in critical thinking. The same cannot be said for students enrolled in GEOG 1401, although students enrolled in this class did improve when it came to the interpretation of graphs and charts, a new priority for this class. However, it is probably not totally fair to compare the two classes directly, as they really do serve different purposes. By far, the majority of students enrolling in GEOG 1401 do so in order to fulfill a lab science requirement, while GEOG 1321 attracts students with some interest in the subject matter (although it does also fulfill a core requirement). Perhaps more importantly, most sections of GEOG 1321 enroll much smaller numbers of students. Nevertheless, we deem it necessary to continue to try to replicate some of what works in GEOG 1321 (group exercises, for example) in the lab portions of GEOG 1401. Students enrolled in both courses did improve when it came to the interpretation of basic statistics, although they still score below the designated acceptable level. We fully expect our efforts to emphasize this subject matter across the entire program to reap recognizable benefits as we go forward.
Objective
Demonstrate Knowledge Of Foundational Concepts Of Physical Geography
Students completing the core education in geography will demonstrate knowledge of physical geography including the world in spatial terms, places and regions, and physical systems.
Indicator
Physical Geography Concepts
Students will correctly answer the embedded questions on exams throughout the semester that address physical geography. The areas of emphasis include the world in spatial terms, places and regions, and physical systems.
Criterion
70% Accuracy On Physical Concepts
Students will score 70% correct on those questions pertaining to each of the three areas of emphasis concerning physical geographical concepts.
Students enrolled in GEOG 1321 scored on average 68% on those questions pertaining to the world in spatial terms. This score is slightly lower than the score found the previous year, and slightly lower than expected. Students enrolled in GEOG 1401 scored on average 61% on questions assessing this concept, less than expected and slightly lower than that of the previous year. Students enrolled in GEOG 2301 scored on average 73 % on these questions, a scorer higher than expected. Students enrolled in both GEOG 1321 and GEOG 2301 scored on average 71% on questions pertaining to concepts of places and regions, a higher score than was found the previous year (for GEOG 1321 at least), and a score that does meet expectations. Students enrolled in GEOG 1401 scored on average 62% on such questions, a higher score than realized previously although it still did not meet expectations. In those two assessment areas, students generally performed as well as they did on exams as a whole. Students enrolled in GEOG 1321 scored 67% on questions pertaining to physical systems, while students enrolled in GEOG 1401 scored 65% on such questions. Both scores were slightly increased from that of the previous year. Students enrolled in GEOG 2301 scored on average a 74% on these questions.
Action
Improving The Learning Of Physical Geography
There still remains considerable room for improvement in the delivery of basic concepts of physical geography and concepts pertaining to the world in spatial terms. Scores for students enrolled in both GEOG 1321 and GEOG 1401 declined from the previous year in regard to these subject matter. However, students do seem to be adequately learning physical geography in a separate course (GEOG 2301) which was just newly assessed this past year. Both GEOG 1321 and GEOG 1401 were recently redesigned but because they both serve specific core curriculum needs, the amount of time and energy that can be devoted to physical geography is limited. Environmental Geography (GEOG 2301), by comparison, is specifically designed around this subject matter. Likewise, GEOG 2355 and 2356 are specifically designed to focus attention on the “world is spatial terms,” thus their future inclusion in assessment may provide a better view of how well our students are actually doing in regards to this subject area. We are optimistic that we will come closer to meeting the expected level once students from these two courses are assessed.
Goal
Demonstrate Knowledge Of Cultural Concepts In Geography
Students completing the core courses required for a Geography degree will demonstrate knowledge of cultural geography including both human systems and the interaction between the environment and society.
Objective
Demonstrate Knowledge Of Cultural Concepts In Geography
Students completing the core courses required for a Geography degree will demonstrate knowledge of cultural geography including both human systems and the interaction between the environment and society.
Indicator
Cultural Geography Concepts
Students will correctly answer the embedded questions on exams during the semester that address cultural geography. The areas of emphasis include human systems and the environment and society.
Criterion
70% Accuracy On Cultural Concepts
Students will score 70% correct on those questions pertaining to each of the two areas of emphasis associated with cultural geography concepts.
Finding
Student Learning Outcomes Concerning Cultural Concepts
Students enrolled in GEOG 3350 scored an average of 72% on a set of questions focused upon human systems. Students enrolled in GEOG 1321 and GEOG 2301 scored an average of 69% and 71% on those same questions. Students enrolled in GEOG 3350 scored 69% on questions concerning the interaction of the environment and society, while students enrolled in GEOG 1321 scored an average of 66% on these questions. The scores on these questions were below expectation for both courses, but they did increase significantly from the previous year. Students enrolled in GEOG 2301 scored on average of 73%, which is above expectation.
Action
Improving The Learning Of Cultural Geography
It would appear that the teaching of human/cultural geography is a departmental strength, as students are learning this material at a higher level than other subject matter assessed. This almost certainly relates to the fact that the majority of the faculty have expertise in human geography (as opposed to physical/environmental geography). This finding is also due to the fact that students enrolled in these courses are disproportionately older. Morevoer, far more of them are majoring in the field, compared to those enrolled in other courses. In future assessments, we plan on formulating the assessment so we can get more specific insight into particular sub-areas of cultural geography. For example, are there certain subject or geographic areas that students are more comfortable with, compared to others areas? Are they more or less familar with religion, or the culture of Latin America? Addressing more specfiific aspects of cultural geography would provide insight how to continue to improve in this subject area.