Assessment Plan and Timeline Department of Human Communication Studies for M.A. Program in Communication Studies

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1 1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of prevailing theories and models of I.B., I.D., II.B., and II.D.) Assessment is at beginning of studies when M.A. students are expected not to specialize in an area for research on a thesis. Students are required to take core coursework in HCOM 536 (Human ), of the course as part of the final exams students take. In HCOM 536 Pre-comprehensive thesis defense every semester HCOM 536 is offered. The Precomprehensive learning goals will be implemented by Assessment Plan and Timeline Department of Human Studies for M.A. Program in Studies include general area questions demanding theory application. o Theses require writing that demonstrates knowledge of theoretic bases of thesis topics. questions for 536 have been prepared and have been implemented. Measures consist of students testing on the concepts of theory and their requirements, and include items in basic concepts are matched to communication and rhetorical theories. o The Pre-comprehensive test of learning goals includes questions dealing with each of the learning goal. The test itself is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. This ancillary testing is not o Comprehensive exams are collected by proctors and returned to the o Thesis writing is questions for 536 are collected by instructors in each section of HCOM 536. o The PTLG is proctor and turned over to the assessment coordinator who files them for subsequent How will be are by the student s advisory committee who may find them acceptable, or failing and requiring another exam. o Sound thesis writing using key concepts is for the purpose of accepting a thesis or ordering additional revisions. o The Precomprehensive learning goals is scored by the student s guidance committee using an approved rubric. Not yet implemented. from HCOM 536 have indicated that students' possess a general understanding prevailing theories, and models of human communication. Yet the information also revealed that students admitted to the M.A. program from other universities struggled to achieve high scores since they appear to have specialized in undergraduate degree programs before acquiring a general knowledge of theory. The result of this observation is that the instructors of the 536 course have found it desirable to discover student knowledge at the beginning o the class as a diagnostic tool to permit time to prepare for restorative instruction. 108

2 2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of communication variables, concepts, principles, processes, and phenomena and their role and impact on communication encounters. (I.A., I.B., I.D., and II.B.) Assessment occurs at the beginning of studies when students are required to take HCOM 500 (Research in Studies). Assessment also occurs through comprehensive exams or thesis writing. of the courses as part of the final exams students take. Pre-comprehensive thesis defense. every semester from 500.The Precomprehensive learning goals will be implemented by include general area questions demanding theory application; o Theses require writing that demonstrates knowledge of theoretic bases of thesis topics questions for 500 have been prepared and have been implemented. Measures consist of students testing on the concepts of communication variables, concepts and constructs, principles, processes, and phenomena and the means by which they may be studied to explore their role and impact on communication. o The PTLG includes questions dealing with each of the learning goal. The test itself is scored by the student s guidance committee using an approved rubric. This ancillary testing is not yet implemented. o Comprehensive exams are collected by proctors and returned to the o Thesis writing is o For embedded assessment, data are collected by instructors in each 500 (in the Studies sequence;- -excluding sections taught in Communicative Disorders). o The PTLG is proctor who submits to be filed for subsequent How will be are by the student s advisory committee who may find them acceptable, or failing and requiring another exam. o Sound thesis writing showing mastery of research concepts is for the purpose of accepting a thesis or ordering additional revisions. o The PTLG is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. Not Such information is (and has been) indicative of the fact that the learning goal is met. The information also has been used to diagnose difficulties in instruction Among incoming graduate students the range of methodological preparation has been astonishing. Thus, it has become desirable to complete a diagnostic pretest to identify the methodological status of students, rather than waiting for midterm or final grades to reveal difficulties. PAGE 109

3 3. The student will demonstrate detailed knowledge within two concentrations of study: argumentation, persuasion, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, rhetorical theory, rhetorical criticism, small group communication, or organizational I.B., I.D., and II.B.) Assessment occurs when students are required to file a Graduate Study Plan emphasizing areas of concentration. Each student completes Graduate Study Plan and final evaluation option. No change involved for assessment. The program demands a Graduate Study Plan to assure focus. The comprehensive exams or the thesis area of research provide further of detailed knowledge within two concentrations. Chief measure of assessment will be number of times comprehensive exams were taken or the number of changes required in the thesis between submission and final approval. The Studies Graduate Adviser keeps records of Graduate Study Plans and specification of authorizations. How will be Completion of Graduate Study Plan and successful completion of comprehensive exams or thesis will demonstrate knowledge Though no particular assessment issues have been raised, there has been a healthy and spirited debate involving whether graduate committees are so insulated that students who may claim an area of specialization may not be able to prove that specialization if challenged. The suggestion has been made that Gradate Study Plans be submitted to the Studies faculty as a way of assuring that there is some kind of assurance that claimed detailed knowledge actually exists. PAGE 110

4 4. The student will demonstrate the ability to read, understand, evaluate, and critique scholarly research in the field of I.B., I.D., and II.B.) Assessment occurs when students take HCOM 500. of the courses as part of final exams. A student ability to interpret SPSS output is completed by all students. Pre-comprehensive thesis defense. every semester from 500 taught by Studies faculty. The PTLG will be implemented by questions for 500 on identifying elements of the methods section of an article using quantitative methods and an article using qualitative methods. These test portions are composed of seven items assessing the ability of students to comprehend the methods section of a research article and their links to the types of research questions asked (similar, but more advanced, than the activity involved in embedded assessment used in HCOM 308). o Assessment of student ability to interpret SPSS output in 500. o The PTLG includes questions dealing with scholarly argument and criticism. The test itself is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. This ancillary testing is not yet implemented. Instructors in each 500 (in the Studies sequence; HCOM 500 courses taught in Communicative Disorders are excluded) A student ability to interpret SPSS output is collected in each 500 taught by a Studies professor. The PTLG is proctor who submits to be filed for subsequent How will be o The SPSS Output Interpretation is filed with the assessment coordinator and scored. Means are reported. o The PTLG is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. Not Such information is (and has been) indicative of the fact that the learning goal is met. Yet, the information also use used to assess whether the current course is meeting its objectives. In terms of the knowledge of content, results have shown reasonable levels of achievement. Similarly the interpretation of SPSS output has not been a problem. PAGE 111

5 5. The student will demonstrate the ability to understand both qualitative and quantitative research methods as they apply to the study of I.B., I.D., and II.B.) Assessment occurs when students take HCOM 500. of the courses as part of final exams. Pre-comprehensive thesis defense. every semester from 500 taught by Studies faculty. The PTLG will be implemented by questions for 500 on identifying elements of the methods section of an article using quantitative methods and an article using qualitative methods. These test portions are composed of seven items assessing the ability of students to comprehend the methods section of a research article and their links to the types of research questions asked (similar, but more advanced, than the activity involved in embedded assessment used in HCOM 308). o The PTLG includes questions dealing with scholarly argument and criticism. The test itself is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. This ancillary testing is not Instructors in each 500 (in the Studies sequence; HCOM 500 courses taught in Communicative Disorders are excluded) The PTLG is proctor who submits to be filed for subsequent How will be o The PTLG is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. Not Such information is (and has been) indicative of the fact that the learning goal is met. Yet, the information also use used to assess whether the current course is meeting its objectives. In terms of the knowledge of content, results have shown reasonable levels of achievement. The information also will be used to give feedback to guidance committees on the degree to which graduate students are able to demonstrate mastery of the literature in their field. PAGE 112

6 6. The student will demonstrate the ability to recognize and appreciate the ethical issues surrounding the study and practice of I.B., and II.B.) Assessment is at beginning of studies when M.A. students are required to take HCOM 536 (Human ), of the course as part of the final exams students take. In HCOM 536 Pre-comprehensive thesis defense every semester HCOM 536 is offered. The Precomprehensive learning goals will be implemented by spring 2013 questions for 536 have been prepared and have been implemented. Measures consist of students identifying sources of ethical challenges in conducting communication research, identifying minimal ethical standard required by the field s professional codes of conduct, and applying these standards to a case study involving ethical challenges. o The Pre-comprehensive test of learning goals includes questions dealing with each of the learning goal. The test itself is scored by the committee using an approved rubric. This ancillary testing is not questions for 536 are collected by instructors in each section of HCOM 536. The PTLG is proctor and turned over to the assessment coordinator who files them for subsequent How will be questions for sections of HCOM 536 are collected by instructors in each section of HCOM 536. o The PTLG is collected by a proctor and turned over to coordinator who files them for subsequent *The items listed in parentheses following the statement of objectives are relevant elements of the University Mission and Goals at the time of acceptance of the Learning Objectives from HCOM 536 have indicated that students' do not possess a general understanding of the content of professional codes of conduct. A section on this matter has been proposed for HCOM 536. Questions have arisen about whether this topic should be tested in 536, 500, or a part of a standing question in all comprehensive exams. The wisdom of requiring a course in communication ethics has also been suggested. These matters remains sources of unsettle controversy and will have to be addressed in future retreats. PAGE 113