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Kennedy-King College’s Assessment Academy Project Report. October 2013. A Brief History of Writing Across the Curriculum. WAC has been an ongoing initiative at KKC for nearly ten years
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Kennedy-King College’s Assessment Academy Project Report October 2013
A Brief History of Writing Across the Curriculum • WAC has been an ongoing initiative at KKC for nearly ten years • Two years ago, WAC was added as a project to KKC’s Assessment Academy Project with the Higher Learning Commission • Last year, WAC worked in partnership with the Dean’s office to assess our students’ writing across the general education curriculum
What We’ve Done… • Re-tooled scoring rubric to provide a better snapshot of student writing (based on Academy mentor recommendation) • During 2011-12 committee collected 230 writing samples from 10 departments • During 2012-2013 committee collected 377 writing samples from 23 different courses
What We’ve Done… • Held workshops to train committee members on paper scoring • Scored writing samples analytically using revised WAC rubric • Compiled data for distribution to faculty • Provided concrete recommendations for improving writing on campus
Some Quick Takeaways… • Composition is the strongest aspect of our students’ writing with 68% scoring a 4 or 3. • Sentence Structure is the weakest aspect of our students’ writing with 47% achieving only a 1 or 2. • Usage and Mechanics also proved difficult for our students with only 55% achieving a 4 or 3 in both areas.
How We Compare To Last Year… Composition Scores: 20122013Net Change 4 – 37% 27% -10 3 – 44% 41% -3 2 – 17% 27% +10 1 – 2% 5% +3
How We Compare To Last Year… Organization Scores: 20122013Net Change 4 – n/a 24% n/a 3 – n/a 41% n/a 2 – n/a 30% n/a 1 – n/a 5% n/a
How We Compare To Last Year… Style Scores: 20122013Net Change 4 – 29% 20% -9 3 – 39% 38% -1 2 – 31% 37% +6 1 – 1% 5% +4
How We Compare To Last Year… Sentence Structure Scores: 20122013Net Change 4 – 32% 18% -14 3 – 41% 36% -5 2 – 25% 38% +13 1 – 2% 9% +7
How We Compare To Last Year… Usage Scores: 20122013Net Change 4 – 22% 17% -5 3 – 43% 38% -5 2 – 32% 36% +4 1 – 2% 9% +7
How We Compare To Last Year… Mechanics Scores: 20122013Net Change 4 – 25% 17% -7 3 – 43% 38% -5 2 – 32% 36% +4 1 – 2% 9% +7
Why The Change? • Bigger sample size • Rubric changes • Submissions focused only on general education classes • Submissions process
Concrete Things We’ve Done: • Recommend all faculty provide writing rubrics to students for all writing assignments • Encourage use of the Writing Center tutoring services through adoption of GradesFirst technology • WAC Committee regularly meets with Communications Department to discuss strategies
Concrete Things We’ve Done: • WAC Committee makes annual presentation of findings to all faculty and staff during Faculty Development Week • WAC Committee members have been participants on college search committee for new institutional researcher
Where We’re Heading… • WAC is scheduled to officially report out of the Assessment Academy this fall • WAC will meet separately and with Department Chairs to formulate specific more recommendations to improve writing • WAC will continue to explore ways to expand awareness of the project and to increase submissions.
Where We’re Heading… • Recommendations will be shared and refined with the English Department • Final recommendations will be distributed to entire KKC faculty through Department Chairs
Thank you Questions?