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Assessed: 5 Cycles 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013. BSBA Critical Thinking Skills.
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Assessed: 5 Cycles 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 BSBA Critical Thinking Skills
Goal 2: Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills - Demonstrate effective analytical and critical thinking skills to make an appropriate decisionin a complex situation.Student Learning Outcomes:Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem.Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision.
Where do our students learn and practice critical thinking skills? • General Education Requirements • Required course in Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking • Required course in Quantitative Reasoning • Additional lower and upper division General Education requirements • Preparation for the Major Requirements • Core Courses in the BSBA Major • Advanced Courses in the BSBA Major
The refinement of the process over five cycles of assessment. How do we assess our students’ critical thinking skills?
Cycle #1: 2006 • Case analyses completed for the college-wide CBA capstone course (MGT 405) were examined. • CBA’s former Director of Assessment developed a rubric after extensive review of existing critical thinking instruments • 2 CBA faculty worked with the former Director of Assessment to rate the case analyses using the rubric following a training and norming session
Cycle #2: 2009 • Final exams completed for the college-wide CBA capstone course (MGT 405) were examined. • Course Instructor and Director of Assessment developed a rubric after reviewing the 2006 rubric and others from the critical thinking literature. • Rubric was widely distributed to students during the semester. • Instructor & Director of Assessment rated the final exams using the revised rubric following training and norming sessions.
Rubric Construction Details (for Cycle #2 rubric revision) • 7 Point scale from Weak to Excellent • Expectations determined post-hoc based on examination of means for dimensions. • Dimensions: • Clear understanding of the question and issues to be addressed. • Understanding of the relevant concepts and frameworks. • Effective application of relevant concepts to address question/issues. • Ability to effectively use case data (depth & breadth) to illustrate a position. • Ability to think strategically (i.e. integrate across internal & external environment; across functional areas; take a general management view). • Ability to arrive at logical and well reasoned conclusions based on the discussion.
Cycle #3: 2010 • Final exams completed for the college-wide CBA capstone course (MGT 405) were examined. • Course Instructor and Director of Assessment refined 2009 rubric based on mapping & experience. • Rubric was widely distributed to students during the semester. • Two independent CBA faculty members rated the final exams using the revised rubric following training and norming sessions.
Rubric Revision Details (for Cycle #3) • 7 Point scale from Weak to Excellent retained. • Expectations determination post-hoc based on examination of means for dimensions retained. • Dimensions from Cycle #2 Rubric were reduced by one and wording modified in some cases: • Clear understanding of the question and issues to be addressed. • Knowledge of case facts & ability to effectively use case data to illustrate position. • Effective understanding and application of the relevant concepts and frameworks. • Ability to think strategically (i.e. integrate across internal & external environment; across functional areas; holistically from firm perspective). • Ability to arrive at logical and well reasoned conclusions/recommendations.
Cycle #4: 2011 • Process adopted for Cycle #3 retained. • MGT 405 final exams used • Two independent CBA faculty members rated. • Additional rubric revision/refinement in Cycle #4. • Descriptions of levels added to each dimension. • “Approaches Expectations” dropped in favor of 3 point scale to provide consistency across assessment measures: • Exceeds Expectations • Meets Expectations • Below Expectations
Cycle #5: 2013 • Process adopted for Cycle #3, used in Cycle #4 retained. • MGT 405 final exams used • Two independent CBA faculty members rated. • Rubric revision in Cycle #5: • Descriptions of levels as added in Cycle #4 retained. • 3 point scale added in Cycle #4 retained. • Point ranges within three point scale dropped in favor of: • 1 – Below Expectations; 2 – Meets Expectations; 3 – Above Expectations • However, ½ and ¼ point judgments acceptable when appropriate. • Dimensions reduced to two to better align with Critical Thinking SLOs. • Third dimension rating writing used, results not included in this report.
Assessment Conducted: • Cycle #1: Fall Semester 2006 & Spring Semester 2007 in MGT 405 (International Business Strategy & Integration): • Sample Size: 175 • Cycle #2: Fall Semester 2009 in MGT 405 • Sample Size: 124 • Cycle #3: Fall Semester 2010 in MGT 405 • Sample Size: 119 • Cycle #4: Fall Semester 2011 in MGT 405 • Sample Size: 120 • Cycle #5: Data collected In Fall Semester 2012 in MGT 405, analyzed Spring 2013 • Sample Size: 122
SLO & Dimension Mapping • SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. • Cycle #1: Issue Identification • Cycle #2 - #4: Clear understanding of the question and issues to be addressed. • Cycle #1: Use of Evidence & Data • Cycle #2: Ability to effectively use case data (depth & breadth) to illustrate a position. • Cycles #3 & 4: Knowledge of case facts & ability to effectively use case data to illustrate position. • Cycle #5: Single dimension to assess SLO #1 as indicated on rubric.
SLO & Dimension Mapping • SLO #2: Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. • Cycle #1: Models & Frameworks • Cycle #2: 1) Understanding of relevant concepts & frameworks; 2) Effective application of relevant concepts to address question/issues • Cycle #3 & #4: Effective understanding and application of the relevant concepts & frameworks. • Cycle #1: Conclusions & Recommendations • Cycle #2: Ability to arrive at logical and well reasoned conclusions based on discussion. • Cycle #3 & #4: Ability to arrive at logical and well-reasoned conclusions/recommendations. • Cycle #2: Ability to think strategically (i.e. integrate across internal & external environment; across functional areas; take a general management view. • Cycle #3 & #4: Ability to think strategically (integrate across internal & external environments, functional areas, holistically from firm perspective). • Cycle #5: Single dimension to assess SLO #2 as indicated on rubric.
What do we expect of our students? • BENCHMARKS: • 85% of our students should meet or exceed expectations for critical thinking skills • 50% of our students should exceed expectations for critical thinking skills
RESULTS Cycle #1
SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. 53% 23% 13% 11% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 83% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 53% actually did
SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. 43% 27% 22% 8% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 65% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 22% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 65% 17% 14% 3% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 31% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 14% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 45% 26% 23% 7% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 71% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 26% actually did
Results Summary “85% of our students should meet or exceed expectations” “50% of our students should exceed expectations” YES Issue Identification NO Use of Evidence & Data Models & Frameworks Conclusions & Recommendations • NO • Issue Identification • Use of Evidence & Data • Models & Frameworks • Conclusions & Recommendations
Cycle #1 Closing the Loop • 4 recommendations were made by the assessment team regarding ways to improve the analytic and critical thinking skills of our students. • Faculty should encourage students to make clear problem statements without hedging. • Students should be asked to show their use of models and tools and to demonstrate a clear connection between those models and their analysis. • Faculty should model the use of data in developing solutions to cases and problems. • Students should be given opportunities to learn how to support recommendations with evidence by writing and revising these sections of their papers. • An additional recommendation was to urge faculty to grade assignments with a rubric and to distribute the rubric to students prior to assignment submission
Cycle #1 Closing the Loop • A Memo was sent to all CBA faculty detailing the recommendations and strongly urging them to adopt them • A number of faculty members across the college expressed interest in learning more about the use of rubrics and rubric development. • The CBA Assessment Committee developed a short “rubric primer” which was distributed to the CBA faculty along with examples of rubrics available online and rubrics currently being used in the college.
RESULTS Cycle #2
SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. 39% 53% 5% 3% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 92% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 39% actually did
SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. 52% 19% 11% 18% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 71% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 19% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 50% 27% 10% 13% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 77% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 27% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 47% 24% 17% 12% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 71% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 24% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 63% 21% 9% 7% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 84% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 21% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 53% 21% 15% 11% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 74% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 21% actually did
Results Summary by Dimension “85% of our students should meet or exceed expectations” “50% of our students should exceed expectations” NO Understanding question & issues Understanding relevant concepts & frameworks Application of relevant concepts to issues Effective use of case data Ability to think strategically Ability to arrive at conclusions • YES • Understanding question & issues • NO • Understanding relevant concepts & frameworks • Application of relevant concepts to issues • Effective use of case data • Ability to think strategically • Ability to arrive at conclusions
Results Summary by SLO “85% of our students should meet or exceed expectations” “50% of our students should exceed expectations” NO SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. SLO #2: Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. • NO • SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. • SLO #2: Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision.
Cycle #1 & #2 Comparisons* SLO #1 SLO #2 * Dimensions combined to form single SLO measure
Comparison Observations • Our students appear to have improved slightly in meeting expectations between Cycles #1 & #2. • The benchmark was not achieved for any dimension in Cycle #1 but was achieved on one and very nearly on a second dimension in Cycle #2. • Overall, however, benchmarks were not met for either SLO. • Our students continue to struggle with critical thinking.
Following Cycle #2 . . . • The Undergraduate Committee was heartened by the improvement between Cycles #1 & #2 albeit small. • A decision was made to reassess Critical Thinking in one year to determine if the improvement was the beginning of a trend prior to making additional “Loop Closing” decisions.
RESULTS Cycle #3
SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. 67.2% 17.6% 5% 10.1% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 85% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 18% actually did
SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. 57.1% 16.8% 16.8% 9.2% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 74% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 17% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 52.1% 21% 16.8% 10.1% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 62% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 10% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 57.1% 18.5% 12.6% 11.8% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 69% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 12% actually did
SLO #2:Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. 56.3% 18.5% 18.5% 6.7% “85% should meet or exceed expectations”; 63% actually did “50% should exceed expectations”; 7% actually did
Results Summary by Dimension “85% of our students should meet or exceed expectations” “50% of our students should exceed expectations” NO Understanding question & issues Understanding & application of relevant concepts & frameworks Effective use of case data Ability to think strategically Ability to arrive at conclusions • YES • Understanding question & issues • NO • Understanding & application of relevant concepts & frameworks • Effective use of case data • Ability to think strategically • Ability to arrive at conclusions
Results Summary by SLO “85% of our students should meet or exceed expectations” “50% of our students should exceed expectations” NO SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. SLO #2: Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision. • NO • SLO #1: Collect and organize critical data and information to solve a problem. • SLO #2: Find appropriate models and frameworks to analyze information and follow logical steps to reach an effective decision.
Comparison Observations following Cycle #3 • Although the number of students meeting expectations continues to increase, there was a significant decline in those exceeding expectations between Cycles #2 & #3. • The percent of students failing to meet expectations for SLO #2 was particularly discouraging.