Department of Geology

Assessment Plan – Spring, 2004

 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

The Department of Geology at Georgia State University is committed to excellence in instruction and research in the Earth Sciences.  We recognize that to achieve and maintain excellence we must set forth goals in the form of Learning Outcomes and put into place a way of effectively assessing and improving results.

 

We expect all our graduates to possess the following:

• a thorough base of geological knowledge and skills
• effective communication skills, both written and oral
• the ability to apply critical thinking to problem solving in geology
• a thorough grounding in modern analytical and technological applications to geology
• a command of geological laboratory and field skills
• the ability to work effectively in teams to solve geological problems
• an appreciation of contemporary geological and/or environmental issues and problems

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

A.  General Skills

 

General Learning Outcome 1:  Each graduate shall develop communication skills, both oral and written, including some or all of the following.

Specific Outcomes:

1a.  Each graduate will participate in oral examinations and/or give an oral presentation in class

1b.  Each graduate will write a literature review, grant proposal, term paper, or short essays

1c.  Each graduate will prepare a course portfolio

1d.  Each graduate will participate in essay tests

 

General Learning Outcome 2:  Each graduate will have experience and develop skills in collaborative exercises and activities.

Specific Outcomes:

2a.  Each graduate will participate in a collaborative research project or in-class debate

2b.  Each graduate will participate in field trips

 

B.  Geological and General Scientific Skills

 

General Learning Outcome 3:  Each graduate shall develop skills in quantitative and technological laboratory and field procedures in geology.

Specific Outcomes:

3a.  Each graduate will learn accepted lab techniques, protocol and analytical procedures

3b.  Each graduate will learn theory as applied to laboratory exercises

3c.  Each graduate will learn accepted field techniques and protocol

3d.  Each graduate will write a computational routine using a computer language for repetitive calculations

 

General Learning Outcome 4:  Each graduate shall develop skills in critical thinking as it relates to science in general and to geology in particular.

Specific Outcomes:

4a.  Each graduate will learn to develop valid research questions and hypotheses

4b.  Each graduate will learn the techniques of data acquisition and interpretation

4c.  Each graduate will learn problem solving and formulation of new questions

 

 

General Learning outcome 5:  Each graduate shall develop general geological knowledge and understanding of contemporary geological issues.

Specific Outcomes: 

5a.  Each graduate will learn to read and comprehend a geological map and construct a geological cross section from a map.

5b.  Each graduate will construct an internally consistent geological map from a set of given observations.

5c.  Each graduate will construct a contour map from numerical data.

5d.  Each graduate will write a scientific report utilizing acceptable technical writing and organization, and with citations to appropriate geological literature.

5e.  Each student will demonstrate understanding of contemporary environmental issues as related to exploitation and stewardship of the earth.

 

C.  Knowledge Base

 

General Learning outcome 6:  Each graduate shall develop a general understanding of the physical constitution of the earth.

Specific Outcomes: 

6a.  Each graduate will learn to characterize and identify common rocks and minerals in hand specimen and in thin section using the petrographic microscope.

6b.  Each graduate will learn to characterize the fundamental attributes of atoms and atomic bonding as they relate to crystal structures.

6c.  Each graduate will learn to relate physical properties of the rock forming minerals to the crystal structure and chemistry of the minerals.

6d.  Each graduate will learn to characterize the gross chemical layering of the earth (inner and outer core, mantle, crust) and explain what lines of evidence have been used to deduce this structure.

6e.  Each graduate will learn to characterize the distribution of continents and ocean basins, and locations of major physiographic features such as mountain belts, oceanic ridges, oceanic trenches, and oceanic island chains.

 

General Learning outcome 7:  Each graduate shall develop a general understanding of both the internal and external dynamic processes of the earth system.

Specific Outcomes: 

7a.  Each graduate will be able to explain the fundamental concepts of plate tectonics, including mantle convection and the dynamic layered structure of the earth (inner and outer core, mesosphere, asthenosphere, lithosphere).

7b.  Each graduate will be able to characterize the distribution and origin of magmas within the earth, including the concept of magmatic differentiation.

7c.  Each graduate will be able to describe and explain rock structures at all scales ranging from intragrain deformation to orogenic belts.

7d.  Each graduate will be able to describe and explain metamorphic processes that take place in the lithosphere.

7e.  Each graduate will be able to explain the fundamental principles of the hydrologic cycle.

7f.  Each graduate will be able to characterize the distribution and origin of aqueous fluids within the earth.

7g.  Each graduate will be able to explain the principles of weathering, sediment transport and deposition.

7h.  Each graduate will be able to integrate igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary phenomena with respect to seafloor spreading, continental drift, and orogenic and post-orogenic events.

 

General Learning outcome 8:  Each graduate shall develop a general understanding of the history of the earth and the solar system.

Specific Outcomes: 

8a.  Each graduate will be able to relate general principles of stellar nucleosynthesis and the nebular hypothesis for origin of the solar system.

8b.  Each graduate will be able to explain how earth history is divided into the standard geological time scale, and relate the general historical character of each major time division.

8c.  Each graduate will be able to identify some common representatives of both vertebrate and invertebrate fossils and place them correctly within the geologic time scale.

8d.  Each graduate will be able to explain the fundamentals of biological evolution, particularly in regard to the fossil evidence for biological change through geologic time.

8e.  Each graduate will be able to identify various sedimentary structures, relate them to modern depositional environments, and interpret the geological significance of paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

 

 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

 

UNDERGRADUATE

 

1.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 1

The assessment of oral and written communication skills will take place at three points in the program:

     a.  Upon entry into the geology major, after completion of Geol 3002 (Introduction to Earth Materials),

     b.  Upon completion of the first semester of junior level courses, in Geol 4006 (Sedimentary Environments and Stratigraphy), and

     c.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology).

 

2.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 2

The assessment of skills in collaborative exercises and activities will take place at three points in the program:

     a.  Upon entry into the geology major, after completion of Geol 3002 (Introduction to Earth Materials),

     b.  Upon completion of the first semester of junior level courses, in Geol 4013 (Structural Geology), and

     c.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology).

 

3.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 3

The assessment of quantitative and technological skills in laboratory and field procedures will take place at four points in the program:

     a.  Upon entry into the geology major, after completion of Geol 3002 (Introduction to Earth Materials),

     b.  Upon completion of the first semester of junior level courses, in Geol 4013 (Structural Geology), and

     c.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology).

     d.  Upon completion of senior level courses, in Geol 4016 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology)

 

4.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 4

The assessment of critical thinking will take place at three points in the program: 

     a.  Upon entry into the geology major, after completion of Geol 3002 (Introduction to Earth Materials),

     b.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology).

     c.  Upon completion of senior level courses, in Geol 4016 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology)

 

5.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 5

The assessment of general geological knowledge and contemporary geological issues will take place at three points in the program:

     a.  Upon completion of the introductory sequence (Geol 1121 &1122),

     b.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology),

     c.  Upon completion of environmental-emphasis courses, Geol 4007 (Hydrogeology) and Geol 4017 (Environmental Geology).

 

6.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 6

The assessment of understanding of physical constitution of the earth will take place at three points in the program:

     a.  Upon completion of the introductory sequence (Geol 1121 &1122),

     b.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology),

     c.  Upon completion of senior level courses, in Geol 4016 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology).

 

7.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 7

The assessment of understanding of dynamic processes of the earth will take place at three points in the program:

     a.  Upon completion of the introductory sequence (Geol 1121 &1122)

     b.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology).

     c.  Upon completion of senior level courses, in Geol 4016 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology)

 

8.  Assessment of Learning Outcome 8

The assessment of understanding of the history of the earth will take place at three points in the program:

     a.  Upon completion of the introductory sequence (Geol 1121 &1122)

     b.  Upon completion of the first semester of junior level courses, in Geol 4006 (Sedimentary Environments and Stratigraphy), and

     c.  Upon completion of field camp, Geol 4120 (Basic Field Geology) & Geol 4121 (Advanced Field Geology).

 

GRADUATE

 

Knowledge and skills of graduate students will be assessed four ways:

     a.  By way of (i) oral and written examinations, (ii) reports and papers, (iii) question/answer sessions in seminar-format courses, and (iv) oral presentations in classes.

     b.  By the quality of the written thesis or research report (if non-thesis student),

     c.  By the oral presentation of the thesis research

     d.  By success rates in placement in other graduate programs or in jobs.

 

 

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

 

Faculty will integrate assessment into their thinking about the effectiveness of their instructional activities.  As a minimum, each instructor will fill out for every class taught an assessment form of the type attached here.

 

UNDERGRADUATE

 

1.  Laboratory based assessment.  Content knowledge, critical thinking, geology lab skills, technology skills, collaboration skills, and communication skills will be assessed in the following ways:

     a.  Lab reports and other lab turn-ins,

     b.  Responses, both verbal and written, to instructions given during lab activities,

     c.  Dialogue between lab instructor and student,

     d.  Effectiveness of lab team activities,

     e.  Lab examinations

 

2.  Lecture based assessment.  The quality and thoroughness of content knowledge and communication skills will be assessed in the following ways:

     a.  Written examinations,

     b.  Written reports or papers,

     c.  Oral presentations.

 

3.  Field based assessment:  Content knowledge, critical thinking, geology field skills, technology skills, collaboration skills, and communication skills will be assessed in the following ways:

     a.  Geologic maps, cross sections, and geologic histories turn-ins,

     b.  Responses, both verbal and written, to instructions given during field activities,

     c.  Dialogue between field instructor and student,

     d.  Effectiveness of field team activities,

     e.  Independent mapping exercises (field quiz).

 

4.  Other:

     a.  Track employment of graduates,

     b.  Track placement of graduates into graduate programs,

     c.  Exit survey of students’ perception of the B.S. program.

  

GRADUATE

 

1.  Ph.D. and thesis M.S. students will be evaluated on the following bases:

     a.  The thesis proposal, the thesis, and the oral examination or thesis defense,

     b.  Course based reports, oral presentations, and class discussions,

     c.  Depth and sophistication of understanding of the research topic.

 

2.  Non-thesis M.S. students will be evaluated on the following bases:

     a.  The research project,

     b.  Course based reports, oral presentations, and class discussions.

 

3.  Other:

     a.  Track employment of graduates,

     b.  Track placement of graduates into graduate programs,

     c.  Exit survey of students’ perception of the B.S. program.

 

 

 

USE OF RESULTS

 

The completed forms (attached) will serve as the primary data set from each instructor as to how closely learning outcomes goals have been met.  The chair will assemble and organize the data and use the data to track and document improvements.  The chair will work with the Undergraduate Programs Committee and the Graduate Programs Committee to evaluate the data, and will convey the results to the faculty.  The faculty will engage in an ongoing dialogue about how to improve the results, and in consultation with the appropriate committee and the chair, decide on adjustments in course content, delivery, etc.