Environmental Science, Policy and Geography Department Academic Learning Compact

Transcription

1 Environmental Science, Policy and Geography Department Academic Learning Compact Expected Academic Learning Compacts for ESP (BS. In ESP) Consistent with the Board of Governors Policy Guideline #PG , this document forms the Academic Learning Compact for the environmental science and policy department, specifying what students will be able to know and do upon graduating with a major in environmental science and policy. Within the compact is a description of learning outcomes, how they will be assessed, and the criterion for success. The learning outcomes encompass the following goals for students graduating from USFSP: content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, scientific inquiry/critical thinking skills, and civic engagement. The Environmental Science and Policy department Mission is to develop solutions to the increasingly urgent problems resulting from human impacts on the environment; contribute to efforts to better understand and respond to those impacts; and protect and manage environmental resources in the face of population growth and economic change. The department goals mirror the USFSP institution and College of Arts and Sciences goals below and all SLO descriptions are summarized in Table 1. The Academic Learning Compact for the Environmental Science and Policy major addresses student learning in four areas: 1. Content/Discipline Skills 2. Communication Skills 3. Critical Thinking Skills 4. Civic Engagement Detailed Learning Outcomes for ESP Learning outcomes can be written at different levels of generality. Within each goal above are a set of specific learning outcomes that together stipulate the kinds of learning required to achieve the general goal. Additional layers of indicators can be presented at even greater specificity. Goals represent the highest layer of generality, followed by outcomes, and finally by indicators. The Table 5 summarizes SLOs. 1. Content/Discipline: Goals/Objectives a. Evaluate and implement the scientific process This goal is assessed by all students in EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 by questions asking students to explain the scientific process and to detail an example of its implementation on the final exam. b. Contrast important features and components of the major global ecosystems. This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 4921 with an exit assessment containing questions on major global ecosystems. 1 P age

2 c. Apply the science of ecology to specific issues the field of environmental science. This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 4921 with an exit assessment test will be administered containing questions testing knowledge of ecology. d. Demonstrate an understanding of the major environmental issues, the science underlying them (including chemistry, geology, and biology), and potential solutions, including scientific and policy strategies. This goal is assessed by all students in Environmental Chemistry with a final exam covering climate change, fate and transport of pollutants, ozone chemistry and all students EVR 4921 with an assessment test which will include questions testing knowledge in this area. e. Demonstrate competency in the application of mathematical and GIS concepts to the field of environmental science. This goal is assessed by all ESP major students taking GIS 3006, or GIS 5049 and GIS 4043 with (a) term project that requires synthesis and integration of GIS concepts tools and thinking and the Midterm II. Additionally, all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 are assessed with final test math questions, final paper, and data analysis assignment respectively. f. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the major environmental policies under which political decisions are made. This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 2861 in a series of three examinations focusing on student understanding of the state of US environmental policy in relationship to air, water, land use, energy, waste management, biodiversity, natural resources, and human populations. Additionally, all students in EVR 4921 are assessed with an exit assessment test covering major environmental policies in the US and globally. g. Demonstrate an understanding of the framework of stages of policy development. This goal is assessed by all students in PUP 4203 with an exam on the process of environmental policy formation, adoption, implementation and evaluation. h. Demonstrate an understanding of underlying sustainability principles in the context of environmental sciences. This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 4873 with three examinations on environmental and sustainability issues, problems, and solutions. 2. Communication Skills a. Demonstrate the ability to write clearly and effectively and to produce well organized and well developed papers that report information on environmental science and policy, reflecting appropriate use of language and format. This goal is assessed by ESP students taking GIS 4043 with a term project that includes: introduction, objectives, literature review, methods, results/discussion and conclusions. Additionally, all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 are assessed with lab term paper/portfolios, final paper, and final review paper respectively. All EVR 2861 students are assessed with a research project paper with 3 sequential phases related to an environmental policy topic. Finally, all EVR 4921 students are assessed with a term paper. 2 P age

3 b. Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives, demonstrate the ability to conduct literature research and to prepare written critiques of environmental science and policy research. This goal is assessed by all ESP majors in EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 with a lab term paper/portfolios, final paper, and final review paper respectively. Additionally, all students in PUP 4203 students are assessed with a research project paper in 3 sequentially phases with a review of the literature related to an environmental politics topic. Finally, all students in EVR 4873 are assessed with a research project paper in 3 sequentially phases including a literature review related to a sustainability topic. c. Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives, demonstrate the ability to conduct literature research and to prepare oral critiques of environmental science and policy research. This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking GIS 4043 with a power point presentation on their term project that includes: introduction, objectives, literature review, methods, results/discussion and conclusions. Additionally, all students in EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 are assessed with an exam. 3. Critical Thinking Skills a. Developing an appropriate problem solving strategy involving formulating and testing a research hypothesis. This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking Introductory Statistics I (STA 2023) on descriptive and inferential statistics through a comprehensive final exam. Additionally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking GIS 4043 with relevant questions in Midterm II. Finally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 with essay questions of test 3, final term paper, and final review paper respectively. b. Identify assumptions and underlying relationships. This goal is assessed by all students taking EVR 4921 with an assignment to critically analyze 3 published papers and identify any assumptions and underlying relationships in them. c. Synthesize competing perspectives, understand dichotomies and dualism and draw reasoned inferences. This goal is assessed by all students taking EVR 4921 competing perspectives on important environmental questions and write a report demonstrating these skills d. Demonstrate the ability to represent mathematical information using proper notations and to mathematically analyze quantitative relations between physical parameters This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking MAC2311 (Calculus I) with a comprehensive final exam. e. Evaluate the feasibility of the strategy This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 with the relevant questions on exams. 4. Civic Engagement a. Demonstrate an understanding and ability to apply methods in environmental science and policy in dealing with human concerns related to environmental issues through participation in independent study, individual research, or internships with environmental organizations. b. This goal is assessed by all students taking EVR 4940 preparing a formal paper detailing literature research and knowledge of the "place" of the project relative to current 3 P age

4 environmental thought, the materials and methods used in the project, the results of the project, and the analysis and conclusions based upon those results. Additionally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors who choose to complete an internship (EVR 4940) must complete hours service per week, write a literature review relevant to their internship, and demonstrate in a journal their work time line. Finally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking Students enrolled in PUP 4203 selecting an ongoing public project and assist with policy implementation and practical application to a specific environmental politics and/or policy theme embodied by a community partner. Students are expected to spend at least 15 documented hours involved in civic engagement type activities related to a public project, keep a log sheet of the hours of engagement, and summarize their civic involvement and significant findings in the final paper on the civic engagement project. Complete ALC reports can be found in Appendix D. 4 P age

5 Table 1. ESPG nt Learning Outcomes to be used for ALCs Goals/Objectives Means of Assessment/ Corroborating Evidence* SLO #1: CONTENT/DISCIPLINE SKILL [1a] Evaluate and implement the scientific process. EVR2001, GLY3720, GLY4734. [1b] Contrast important features and components of the major global ecosystems. EVR This goal is assessed by all students in EVR2001, GLY3720, GLY4734 by questions asking students to explain the scientific process and to detail an example of its implementation on the final exam This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 4921 with an exit assessment containing questions on major global ecosystems. [1c] Apply the science of ecology to specific issues the field of environmental science. EVR This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 4921 with an exit assessment test will be administered containing questions testing knowledge of ecology. [1d] Demonstrate an understanding of the major environmental issues, the science underlying them (including chemistry, geology, and biology), and potential solutions, including scientific and policy strategies. EVR This goal is assessed by all students in Environmental Chemistry with a final exam covering climate change, fate and transport of pollutants, ozone chemistry and all students EVR 4921 with an assessment test which will include questions testing knowledge in this area. [1e] Demonstrate competency in the application of mathematical and GIS concepts to the field of environmental science. EVR 2001, GLY 3720C, GLY 4734, GIS 3006 (or GIS 5049), GIS All ESP majors taking GIS 3006, or GIS 5049 and GIS 4043 will be assessed via (a) term project that requires synthesis and integration of GIS concepts tools and thinking and (b) the Midterm II. EVR2001, GLY3720, GLY4734 final test math questions, final paper, and data analysis assignment, respectively. [1f] Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the major environmental policies under which political decisions are made. EVR 2861, EVR [1g] Demonstrate an understanding of the framework of stages of policy development. PUP This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 2861 in a series of three examinations focusing on student understanding of the state of US environmental policy in relationship to air, water, land use, energy, waste management, biodiversity, natural resources, and human populations. Additionally, all students in EVR 4921 are assessed with an exit assessment test covering major environmental policies in the US and globally. This goal is assessed by all students in PUP 4203 with an exam on the process of environmental policy formation, adoption, implementation and evaluation. [1h] Demonstrate an understanding of underlying sustainability principles in the context of environmental sciences. EVR This goal is assessed by all students in EVR 4873 with three examinations on environmental and sustainability issues, problems, and solutions. Goals/Objectives Means of Assessment/ 5 P age

6 SLO #2: COMMUNICATION SKILLS [2a] Demonstrate the ability to write clearly and effectively and to produce well organized and well developed papers that report information on environmental science and policy, reflecting appropriate use of language and format. GIS 4043, EVR2001, GLY 3720C, GLY 4734, EVR 2861, EVR Corroborating Evidence* This goal is assessed by ESP students taking GIS 4043 with a term project that includes: introduction, objectives, literature review, methods, results/discussion and conclusions. Additionally, all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 are assessed with lab term paper/portfolios, final paper, and final review paper respectively. All EVR 2861 students are assessed with a research project paper with 3 sequential phases related to an environmental policy topic. Finally, all EVR 4921 students are assessed with a term paper. [2b] Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives, Demonstrate the ability to conduct literature research and to prepare written critiques of environmental science and policy research. EVR2001, GLY 3720C, GLY 4734, PUP 4203, EVR 4873, EVR [2c] Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives, Demonstrate the ability to conduct literature research and to prepare oral critiques of environmental science and policy research. GIS 4043, EVR 2001, GLY 3720C, GLY 4734, EVR This goal is assessed by all ESP majors in EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 with a lab term paper/portfolios, final paper, and final review paper respectively. Additionally, all students in PUP 4203 students are assessed with a research project paper in 3 sequentially phases with a review of the literature related to an environmental politics topic. Finally, all students in EVR 4873 are assessed with a research project paper in 3 sequentially phases including a literature review related to a sustainability topic. This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking GIS 4043 with a power point presentation on their term project that includes: introduction, objectives, literature review, methods, results/discussion and conclusions. Additionally, all students in EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 are assessed with an exam. Goals/Objectives SLO #3: CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS [3a] Developing an appropriate problem solving strategy involving formulating and testing a research hypothesis. GIS 4043, EVR2001, GLY3720, GLY4734. Means of Assessment/ Corroborating Evidence* This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking Introductory Statistics I (STA 2023) on descriptive and inferential statistics through a comprehensive final exam. Additionally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking GIS 4043 with relevant questions in Midterm II. Finally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 with essay questions of test 3, final term paper, and final review paper respectively. [3b] Identify assumptions and underlying relationships. EVR [3c] Synthesize competing perspectives, understand dichotomies and dualism and draw reasoned inferences. EVR This goal is assessed by all students taking EVR 4921 with an assignment to critically analyze 3 published papers and identify any assumptions and underlying relationships in them. This goal is assessed by all students taking EVR 4921 competing perspectives on important environmental questions and write a report demonstrating these skills 6 P age

7 [3d] Demonstrate the ability to represent mathematical information using proper notations and to mathematically analyze quantitative relations between physical parameters. This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking MAC2311 (Calculus I) with a comprehensive final exam. [3e] Evaluate the feasibility of the strategy. EVR Goals/Objectives CIVIC ENGAGEMENT [4a] Demonstrate an understanding and ability to apply methods in environmental science and policy in dealing with human concerns related to environmental issues through participation in independent study, individual research, or internships with environmental organizations. EVR 4910, EVR 4940, PUP This goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking EVR2001, GLY3720, and GLY4734 with the relevant questions on exams. [Means of Assessment/ Corroborating Evidence* This goal is assessed by all students taking EVR 4940 preparing a formal paper detailing literature research and knowledge of the "place" of the project relative to current environmental thought, the materials and methods used in the project, the results of the project, and the analysis and conclusions based upon those results. Additionally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors who choose to complete an internship (EVR 4940) must complete hours service per week, write a literature review relevant to their internship, and demonstrate in a journal their work time line. Finally, this goal is assessed by all ESP majors taking Students enrolled in PUP 4203 selecting an ongoing public project and assist with policy implementation and practical application to a specific environmental politics and/or policy theme embodied by a community partner. Students are expected to spend at least 15 documented hours involved in civic engagement type activities related to a public project, keep a log sheet of the hours of engagement, and summarize their civic involvement and significant findings in the final paper on the civic engagement project. 7 P age

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