Initial Publication Date: June 19, 2015

Registration Details

This half-day workshop is part of the GSA Short Course 4-Pack. For $50, select any two workshops from the four (add 517A or 517B). Early registration ends on September 15. To sign up for a workshop, use the GSA meeting registration.


517C. Student Learning Outcomes and Program Assessment

Co-sponsored by NAGT and the Geoscience Education Division of GSA

Saturday, October 18, 2014 - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Part of the GSA Short Course 4-Pack

Instructor: David Mogk, Montana State Univ.; Mary Savina, Carleton College

Workshop description

This course is intended for department heads/chairs and faculty interested in curriculum development at the department level. This interactive workshop will use the "matrix method of curriculum design" to help you define student learning outcomes related to mastery of geologic concepts and content, technical skills used in the geosciences, geoscience "habits of mind," higher-order thinking skills, and other professional skills (e.g., communication, quantitative, interpersonal, information). This approach can be used as a guide for faculty to define course goals and specific student learning outcomes in individual courses. In aggregate, this method can be used to map student learning outcomes for entire degree programs to identify areas of strength in departments or to conduct a gap analysis in course offerings. The results can then be used to assess degree programs with respect to the current state of knowledge and conduct of modern geoscience, expectations for students entering the workforce, and alignment of degree programs with departmental or institutional role and scope statements. This workshop will help you explore the student learning outcomes that are most important to your degree program(s) as they apply to your students, institutional type, geographic setting, breadth of disciplines covered in your department, departmental resources, and faculty.

A Field Guide to Building Your Own Departmental Course and Curriculum Matrix for Student Learning Outcomes and Program Assessment

Workshop program

8:00 Essential content threads

8:25 Small group work

8:50 Essential professional skills

9:15 Small group work

9:40 Break

9:55 Geoscientific Habits of Mind

10:20 Small group work

10:45 Lifelong "soft" skills

11:10 Small group work

11:35 Report outs and Summary

11:55 Workshop evaluations

Resources