Fourteen of the twenty-three departments this year engaged in Program Level Assessment. These Assessments are looking more at the overall effectiveness of the total curriculum with respect to student success.
Hospitality Studies
Hospitality Studies students completed a Capstone project as a Program Level Assessment. The evaluations of the department’s Grand Buffet showed 100% of students score 90% or above on this project. The department plan is to develop a more detailed rubric for evaluating the Capstone project in the future.
Law Enforcement Academy
The Law Enforcement Academy goal of passing state-level POST exam has not been completed because the test has not yet been administered.
Engineering Technology and Industrial Electronics Program
Engineering Technology and Industrial Electronics were measuring critical thinking and troubleshooting skills with the use of fluid power principles in a Capstone course required of all students. A rubric was used as the assessment tool. 100% of the students were successful in meeting the criteria. The plan is to continue and expand the criteria to enhance the students’ ability to troubleshoot hydraulic systems.
Automotive
The automotive department tested a group of their students to the NATEF standards with an average score of 88% achieved by the group. The Automotive Department also did a student satisfaction survey to determine student’s perception of the program. Students showed satisfaction with several classes.
Machining
The Machining department utilized the Master CAM certification test as a means of evaluating their students. Two out of six students passed the certification test on the first attempt. Program adjustments will include the addition of a one credit certification class and better entry level testing of skills.
Social Sciences, Education and Library Technician
The Library Technician program conducted a survey of program graduates to identify their satisfaction with the program. Any dissatisfaction with the overall program will be investigated to see what changes should be made as part of a future report.
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
A random survey of employers indicated employer satisfaction with PTA graduates meeting the needs of the physical therapy community.
Medical Imaging Technology
89 per cent of Radiologic technology graduates of the 2006 class passed the ARRT certification exam in Radiography. This percentage was higher than the anticipated 85% pass rate. To improve future pass rates the department will increase the number of Web-VISTA computer based practice exams.
In an employer survey on satisfaction with program graduates, all employers surveyed expressed that both Radiologic Technology and Sonography graduates possessed the skills and abilities that make them valuable employees. Employer and graduate feedback indicate a need to strengthen skills in the area of C-arm mobile fluoroscopic and operating room/surgical procedures. The plan is to involve the Radiologic Technology Advisory committee to form a subcommittee to address these concerns.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program set a goal to meet the OTA community needs. The level II field work supervisors were asked to rate the students on their field work. Out of 32 fieldwork supervisors all felt the students had adequate background for the practice. A survey of employers was conducted to evaluate graduates’ preparation for employment; 90% of employers were satisfied with graduate skills. To prepare for entry level employment as OTAs, students took the certification exam by the National board of Certification for Occupational Therapy. Of the 12 students taking the exam in 2006, all 12 passed.
Nursing
The Nursing department exceeded in all categories the national pass rates on their LPN exams. The RN program is actively working on ways to increase student success on national NCLEX-RN exams through the use of ERI standardized testing. One hundred percent of the PN and ADN students received satisfactory clinical evaluations.
Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting department met or exceeded goals in areas such as critical thinking, patient care, radiology, and job seeking skills. The department gives their students a mock certification exam to measure the overall effectiveness of the program.
Dental Hygiene
The Dental Hygiene department exceeded its goals by having 100% pass rate on the national Board Dental Hygiene Exam and ultimately on the Central Regional Dental Testing Service exam.
Although new information and areas were noted as future areas of focus, 100% of students and employers surveyed felt the students were adequately prepared in the majority of related areas.
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services will be adding more scenario based questions and critical thinking exercises to the curriculum in order to increase the first time pass rate on the National Registry exam at the Paramedic and EMT Intermediate levels.
At the last national exam 87.5% of paramedics and 70% of intermediates passed on the first attempt. In the skills exam 100% of paramedics and 72% of intermediates passed on the first attempt. Additional remediation will be offered to those students that do not pass the National Registry exam on the first try. The staff will also discuss additional skills training for the EMT Basic National Registry Exam.
Classroom Level Assessments
The following departments assessed students at the classroom or course level. Some of these assessments were in addition to Program Level Assessments by the same departments.
Hospitality Studies
Hospitality Studies assessed effective communication and exceeded their goals in all categories. The plan is to incorporate more effective communication and emphasize the importance of speaking and listening skills.
Law Enforcement Academy
The Law Enforcement Academy assessed students’ skills necessary to evaluate a crime scene. A rubric was designed in regard to a mock crime scene. All criteria were exceeded.
Engineering Technology and Industrial Electronics Program
Engineering Technology and Industrial Electronics were measuring critical thinking and troubleshooting skills with the use of fluid power principles. A rubric was used as the assessment tool. 100% of the students were successful in meeting the criteria.
Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Department effectively used pre and post examinations to assess their program reading comprehension, critical thinking skills, professional ethics and empathetic awareness of socio-economic prejudices. They used these assessments to adjust their program scenarios.
Business Computers and Media Technology
The Business, Computers and Media Technology Department measured student presentation skills across a number of classes using a common rubric. Students were evaluated on responsiveness, appropriateness, verbal effectiveness, and non-verbal effectiveness. 91% of students scored in either the developing or advanced category. The data was taken across several classes and evaluated by five different faculty members.
Machining
The Machining Department tested students’ communications skills with a presentation in MAC 245. All students participated in the presentation assignment and the department is looking for other ways to incorporate communication skills in their classes.
Welding
The Welding Department assessed the students at the three high school programs against the students on the PCC campus. They utilized a competition among the four sections of the program. The results showed little difference between the different sections which reinforced the consistency across the program. It was decided to increase the difficulty of the competition when it is next held.
Reading
Reading students in REA030, 060, and 090 completed a survey to self-assess computer skills at the beginning and end of semester. REA 030 students self reported less confidence in their computer skills then students in REA 060 and 090 levels. Over the half of the students enrolled in REA 060 and 090 rated their computer skills as “good.” 33.4% of all students surveyed reported that they had neither completed nor were currently taking an introductory computer course. Recommendations based on results are to add a CIS 110 as a pre or co-requisite to REA 030.
Instructors in REA 060 and 090 tried specific vocabulary strategies to determine if the strategies improved student outcomes. Student proficiency appears to be improved on final exams when students are required to participate in a specific study strategy such as making vocabulary cards.
Math
The Math department developed a tool to prepare students for a second opportunity to test on various math concepts. The tool diagnoses student problem areas, and it was anticipated the tool would allow students to improve their average test scores. 100% of the faculty accepted the tool as a common practice, and 70% of the students used the tool to assess their readiness for a second opportunity. Of the students taking a second opportunity, 50% raised their test score by an average of 20%, and 50% remained about the same. The tool will continue to be under review and revision for more widespread and standardized use.
Science
The Science department integrated a written research paper and oral PowerPoint presentation to their BIO 204 and CHE 112 courses. One hundred percent of the students achieved satisfactory scores on both their written and oral assignments. In the future the science department will expand the requirement for a research paper and oral PowerPoint presentation to other courses. They also exceeded their goal of 70% of BIO 105 students obtaining at least a 72% on their comprehensive finals.
Social Sciences Education and Library Technician
The Social Sciences, Education and Library Technician program assessed critical thinking using a department-wide rubric. The rubric was applied to written assignments in PSY 101 and HIS 201. Fall and spring evaluations showed students performing better than the 75% target level that was set in the criteria.
English
The English Assessment showed an increase in skills in ENG 060 but lower levels in 090 and 121. They sited various reasons including lack of part-time instructor professional development. They plan to improve communication with Adjunct instructors and establish and communicate common standards. A project is in the works to design a web based MLA tutorial for all students.
Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education measured students on their knowledge of Jean Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages. 25 students were tested and 22 of them (88%) scored at the 85% or higher level on these tests. Additional theory material will be added to the curriculum for the fall semester.
Fine Arts and Humanities
The Fine Arts Department evaluated the students acceptance of diverse “voices” in our society. This was measured through a reflection paper, on which 81% of Jewelry studio students did acceptable work.
Another measure was communication at the appropriate level for the course they are taking. Measurements using an oral final indicated that 83% was able to demonstrate the appropriate level of communication at the completion of the course.
Physical Therapist Assistant Program
One of PTA’s goals was to demonstrate competency in PTA theory and skills which resulted in students exceeding the criteria on the comprehensive lab final. On the outcome of obtaining entry level in clinical performance PTA students did not meet the criteria set, possibly due to inconsistencies in the use of the tool employed to evaluate students on clinical performance.
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Students were measured on case studies in OTA 216. The measurements were conducted with a unit test. 94% of the students in OTA 216 passed that test with a grade of C or better.
Nursing
The Nursing department set goals of measuring student communication and critical thinking skills at the end of their program. The results of these measurements are still being evaluated.
Dental Assisting
The Dental Assisting department met or exceeded goals in areas such as critical thinking, patient care, radiology, and job seeking skills. Dental Assisting give their students a mock certification exam to measure the overall effectiveness of the program.
Respiratory Care
The Respiratory Care department measured interpersonal skills of their students.. All students measured received a satisfactory or better rating on their interpersonal skills. All students also scored a 3 or higher on their self-evaluation and peer evaluations on interpersonal skills.
Dental Hygiene
The Dental Hygiene department measured students on resolving ethical dilemmas making use of their interpersonal skills. 100% of the students making use of the interpersonal skill sheet successfully completed the process.
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medical Services will be adding more scenario based questions and critical thinking exercises to the curriculum in order to increase the first time pass rate on the National Registry exam at the Paramedic and EMT Intermediate levels.