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Library Cluster Meeting Agenda (March 25, 2010): Learning Outcomes

Dr. Gallon Urges Our Response

In an e-mail from Dr. Gallon, we are encouraged to participate in the discussion of the Learning Outcomes chosen by the General Education Assessment Committee. This process is necessary for our documentation for SACS. The following is taken from his e-mail:  
 
Based on the results of the assessment, the General Education Assessment Committee has targeted the Communication and Quantitative Reasoning learning outcomes for improvement.  The questions you will be asked to respond to are as follows:    

  1.  Please indicate what has been done this semester, or this past fall, in your cluster (or individual classes) to support these two general education learning outcomes? Be specific.
  2.  What will be done in your cluster, or individual classes, next fall semester that is new to support these two learning outcomes?  Be specific.

 

Communications:  Develop effective reading, writing, speaking, listening, and nonverbal communication skills for a variety of audiences.

Some sample ideas for how faculty might respond to what they are doing to foster reading, writing and oral communication include:

 

 

  • Assigned readings (journals, newspapers, textbooks, etc.)
  • Narrative-style presentations
  • Class group discussions
  • Class presentation given by students

Quantitative Reasoning: Use college-level mathematical concepts and methods to understand, analyze, and explain issues in quantitative terms.

 

Some ideas for how to incorporate quantitative reasoning into a variety of disciplines include: 

 

  • The use of charts, graphs, percentages, and statistical outcomes
  • Using clickers, explaining bar charts
  • Identifying fallacious reasoning, probability and other logical reasoning
  • Grade calculations
  • Learning dates and numbers in foreign languages
  • Discussion of mortality rates and incidents of disease
  • Discussions regarding costs/money, budgets, salaries
  • Baseball statistics  

 

Ideas that could be relevant to both learning outcomes: 

 

  • Introduction of new textbook
  • New teaching strategies or supplemental materials
  • Additional assignments designed to reinforce learning
  • Websites used for instruction
  • Encouragement of students to use SLC
  • Inclusion of supplemental instruction

 

The above ideas are samples to help your cluster begin to brainstorm.  Please share this information with your cluster prior to Development Day so that everyone will be able to come prepared with their own ideas and suggestions.   

 

I have attached a summary page of the General Education assessment results.  The complete results can be found on the IRE website at the following address:  http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/x17021.xml  

 

 

e-mail dated March 18, 2010, from Dr. Gallon

 

General Education Assessment Committee - Learning Outcomes

The General Education Assessment Committee has selected two learning outcomes for the College to
 target for improvement. They are

Communications:  Develop effective reading, writing, speaking, listening, and nonverbal communication skills for a variety of audiences.

Quantitative Reasoning:  Use college-level mathematical concepts and methods to understand, analyze, and explain issues in quantitative terms.

Item 1: What have we done to support the Learning Outcomes?

Indicate what has been done this semester, or this past fall, in our cluster (or individual classes) to support these two general education learning outcomes?   Be specific.

 

 

 

Communications 

1.     Library events to encourage reading and discussion

:·           Read Together Palm Beach County 2010 - The Book Thief

 ·         Holocaust Remembrance:  Film and reading of book, Defiance

 ·         Focus of two PBSC authors: Dr. Maria Arbona and Rhonda Boles
 
·         Hispanic Heritage Month activities
 
·         Constitution Day -  Senator Joe Negron 
 
2.     Collection of print and electronic resources to support the curricular information needs
 
3.     Welcoming spaces and displays to encourage reading
 
4.     Kindle Readers (and other e-Readers) to encourage reading
 
5.     Collaborating with faculty to develop meaningful research assignments
 
·         Summer Science Institute to encourage reading and interpreting latest scientific information
 
·         Literature research project which culminated in group multimedia presentations
 
6.     Working with the Honors College to provide assistance needed to be successful
 
·         Participated in an Honors College Transfer Workshop.
 
7.     Creating Library Guides (LibGuides) for classes 

 

Quantitative Reasoning

 1.   Math titles added ($ spent)

 2.   Loaning graphic calculators

 3.   Reserve collection from Math Department

 

Item 2: What will we doing to support the Learning Outcomes?

What will be done in our cluster, or individual classes, next fall semester that is new to support these two learning outcomes?  Be specific.

Communications

   1.   One College, One Book

   2.

   3.

Quantitative Reasoning

   1.  LibGuides developed for Math   

   2.

   3.