Student Learning on WSU’s Seven Learning Goals: AY 2017-18 [CAPS] Course Assessment Results

As reported in the AY 2017-18 [CAPS] Course Assessment Reporting Summary of Key Evidence for UCORE (PDF), assessment results indicated that 78% of students met or exceeded expectations at the graduating undergraduate level for Critical & Creative Thinking, 79% for Information Literacy, 79% for Depth, Breadth & Integration of Learning, and 78% for written communication. In courses where faculty members found enough elements to evaluate student learning on additional learning goals, instructors indicated that 83% of the students met or exceeded expectations for oral communication, 86% for visual communication, 84% for Scientific Literacy, 87% for Diversity, and 78% for Quantitative Reasoning.

In place since 2015, the UCORE Capstone [CAPS] Course Assessment Reports are intended to gauge student learning on WSU’s Undergraduate Learning Goals at the near-graduation level. [CAPS] courses require students to demonstrate at least four of the seven university learning goals: Critical & Creative Thinking, Information Literacy, Communication, and Depth, Breadth, & Integration of Learning (with Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Literacy, and Diversity included as appropriate to the discipline or course). [CAPS] courses need to be at the 400 level and students need to be at least junior-level.

[CAPS] course instructors were asked to complete course assessment reports for fall 2017 and spring 2018. The report asked instructors to provide an overall holistic assessment of student performance (direct qualitative measure, using faculty expert judgement) of all students in their [CAPS] course.

A total of 133 reports were submitted by 111 instructors, representing 83% of CAPS courses and 77% of students enrolled in CAPS courses in fall 2017 and spring 2018. In 65% of reports, instructors indicated that their students were primarily (>90%) seniors. Instructors indicated that their students were primarily (>90%) majors in 68% of reports. Approximately 80% of students enrolled in all CAPS courses in fall 2017 and spring 2018 were seniors.

Learning Goals Demonstrated in [CAPS] Courses: All CAPS courses (100%) required students to demonstrate Critical & Creative Thinking, Information Literacy, Depth, Breadth, & Integration of Learning, and Communication. As in past semesters, instructors had the option to a) report on Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Literacy, and Diversity, and b) distinguish separate levels of achievement for written, oral, and visual communication. Instructors reported that students demonstrated Scientific Literacy in 53% of courses, Quantitative Reasoning in 43% of courses, and Diversity in 42% of courses. Additionally, while all CAPS courses (100%) include written communication, instructors reported that 81% of their courses also included oral communication and 49% included visual communication.

Student Preparedness for Learning Goals: Instructors reported on the extent students were prepared at the beginning of this CAPS course for the WSU Learning Goals demonstrated in their course. Overall, CAPS instructors indicated that 64% were prepared or well prepared for Critical & Creative Thinking, 65% for Information Literacy, 60% for Depth, Breadth & Integration of Learning, 62% for written communication, 63% for oral communication, 62% for visual communication, 65% for Scientific Literacy, 68% for Diversity, and 57% for Quantitative Reasoning. Instructors also had the opportunity to provide suggestions of how student could be more prepared for their course. Instructors most frequently indicated that students could be more prepared in the areas of written communication, depth, breadth, & integration of learning, information literacy, and critical & creative thinking.

For additional information, see UCORE Capstone [CAPS] Course Assessment or contact the Office of Assessment of Teaching and Learning.