Subject: Student Learning Outcome Assessment

TO: Math 150 Instructors Spring 2014

From: Shannon Gracey

Subject: Student Learning Outcome Assessment

MiraCosta College has undertaken the task of implementing student learning outcomes (SLOs) across the curriculum. Math 150 (Calculus I) is a G.E. course offered by the mathematics department, and the department has agreed that the SLOs for this course will be the following and can be viewed in the official course outline through WebCMS, the computerized course outline system:

1. Given a function, apply the appropriate technique(s) to find the derivative of the function.

2. Given a function, apply the appropriate technique(s) to find the integral of the function.

3. Given an applied problem from differential or integral calculus, apply an appropriate technique to solve the problem.

The college intends that students will be evaluated on these learning outcomes through assessments. The department has agreed that the sample assessments described on the following pages will take place by the end of the current semester. The intent of the assessment is to obtain some global data across all sections of Math 150 on a uniform and substantial calculus problem that synthesizes multiple course objectives. The department has set the minimum competency level as follows: 60% of students will score at least 70%. The scoring data collected will remain private to the instructors involved (and the department chair), and is intended to give feedback to the individual instructors and the department on how well their students have learned the course objectives. The feedback can then be used to inform future decisions about course content and pedagogy.

Please direct any questions or request for more information to Shannon (ext. 6306).

Thank you for your cooperation,

Shannon Gracey

Math 150 Student Learning Outcomes Assessment

SLO #1: Given a function, apply the appropriate techniques(s) to find the derivative of the function.

PLEASE ASSESS YOUR STUDENTS USING ONE OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW OR CREATE AN ITEM THAT CONTAINS AN EXPONENTIAL AND/OR LOGARITHMIC TERM AND REQUIRES THE PRODUCT OR QUOTIENT RULE:

Sample Item #1

Evaluate the derivative of at the point (1,0).

Sample Item #2

Evaluate the derivative of at the point .

SLO #2: Given a function, apply the appropriate technique(s) to find the integral of the function.

PLEASE ASSESS YOUR STUDENTS USING ONE OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW OR CREATE AN INDEFINITE INTEGRAL WHICH IS NON-TRIGONOMETRIC AND REQUIRES A SIMPLE u-SUBSTITUTION:

Sample Item #1

Perform the following integration showing all the steps:

Sample Item #2

Perform the following integration showing all the steps:

SLO #3: Given an applied problem from differential or integral calculus, apply an appropriate technique to solve the problem.

PLEASE ASSESS YOUR STUDENTS USING ONE OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW OR CREATE AN ITEM THAT IS SIMILAR:

Sample Item #1

Solve the word problem showing all steps.

A spherical balloon is inflated with helium at the rate of . How fast is the balloon's radius increasing at the instant the radius is 5 ft? ( Given: )

Sample Item #2

Solve the word problem showing all steps.

A ladder 25 feet long is leaning against the wall of a house. The base of the ladder is pulled away from the wall at a rate of 2 feet per second. How fast is the top of the ladder moving down the wall when its base is 15 feet from the wall.

Math 150 SLO Assessment Rubrics (All Items)

Student work is considered to be proficient if the only mistakes made are minor arithmetic or transcription errors. When you are grading, keep in mind that the department has set the minimum competency level as follows: 60% of students will score at least 70%.

Instructions:

1) You can assign these problems at any time after you cover the appropriate material for solving the particular problem. You may assess SLOs more than one time during the semester (e.g. on an exam and again on the final). It should be in class (not take-home). You can do it in a form that suits your plans. Some ideas:

Quiz

Part of an Exam

On Final Exam

2) You can count it as a part of the grade or not. Please do not announce that it does not count for grade (they will not take it seriously).

3) Students may use scientific or graphing calculators.

4) Students should not use notes.

5) Allow 15 minutes for each problem.

After you are done:

DUE: When the current semester grades are due

Send a hard copy of the information to Math department secretary Kathy

Thiele, at mail-station #1. She will remove the name and signature part from the

form and keep it as an evidence of the form submission. She will submit “No-

name” data to math department SLO group. SLO group will summarize the data

and inform you about the population’s trends and needs for further discussions

or actions. Summative information will be reported in TracDat.

Assessment report form Spring 2014

Math 150

I am submitting the data from my classes for the Math 150 Spring 2014 Assessment

Name: ______

Signature:______

Date: ______

-  ------

PROFICIENCY MEANS 70% OR HIGHER

DEPARTMENT GOAL: AT LEAST 60% OF STUDENTS ACHIEVE PROFICIENCY

Assessment Report for Math 150 Spring 2014

SLO 1 / SLO 2 / SLO 3
Number of students whose work was proficient / Number of students whose work was not proficient / Number of students whose work was proficient / Number of students whose work was not proficient / Number of students whose work was proficient / Number of students whose work was not proficient