ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Mathematics (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered
June 17, 2004
Date Submitted
Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose Linkage:
Institutional Mission Reference:
Texas A&M International University, a Member of The Texas A&M
University System, is committed to the preparation of students for leadership
roles in their chosen profession and in increasingly complex, culturally
diverse state, national, and global society … Through instruction, faculty
and student research, and public service, Texas A&M International
University is a strategic point of delivery for well-defined programs
and services that improve the quality of life for citizens of the border
region, the State of Texas, and national and international communities.
College/University Goal(s) Supported:
The faculty and administrators of the College of Arts and Sciences
and the Department
of Mathematical and Physical Sciences are committed to providing a scholarly
environment
in which students prepare for productive lives in a dynamic world and
in a changing global
and technologically advancing environment.
Intended Educational (Student) Outcomes:
1. Students will demonstrate their mastery of formulating
and solving problems in various areas of mathematics.
2. Students will be able to communicate mathematics in well-structured
sentences.
3. Students will be able to undertake independent work,
explore ideas, discover mathematics and develop correct mathematical
arguments and proofs of their discoveries.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Mathematics (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered
June 17, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome
listed. The intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately
below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.
__1__ Students will demonstrate their mastery of formulating
and solving problems in various areas of mathematics.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_1a._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for
Success: Graduating students will be required to take part in a
pilot study program towards the end of their final semester of studies
by taking the Major Fields Test in mathematics by ETS; 50% of the students
taking the standardized examination will score at or above the National
50th percentile.
_1a._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: One
student graduated, and took the Major Field Test with score 131.
_1a._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
The current national distribution data has not been released. According
to the past practice, this is below the national 50th percentile.
To improve the result, we will offer a one-credit review section for
graduating students.
Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_1b._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria
for Success: Exit survey will be conducted with graduating seniors.
The survey will include questions asking students’ perception of their
own achievement pertaining to the intended outcomes; each response will
be in a scale of 0 to 4, and average of 3.0 point or better for the
responses to the relevant questions will be considered satisfactory.
_1b._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: Students
are not comfortable being asked to solve a problem unfamiliar to them.
They also responded that they are not comfortable using mathematical
software such as Mathematica and Geometer’s Sketch pad, which are powerful
problem solving tools.
_1b._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
To develop students’ problem solving ability, we recommend that
each mathematics instructor incorporate some problem solving projects
in the courses. We will create a database for such projects to facilitate
exchange of ideas and information between instructors. We also recommend
that some of the projects have an element of experiment and/or exploration.
As for computing, we would like to have a computer laboratory housed
within the department with a lab monitor/technician so that students
and faculty can easily access to computing facility at any time.
Third Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_1c._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria
for Success: Final exams of each of the 3000-4000 level courses
will be reviewed by the instructor with respect to the students’ problem
solving skill, and each exam paper will be given a point in a scale
of 0 to 4. The class average of 2.5 point is considered satisfactory.
Instructor will look at students’ ability (1) to find a correct strategy
to solve the problem, and (2) to carry out the strategy and solve the
problem correctly.
_1c._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: The
average point was 2.4 in 4-point scale.
_1c._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
To develop students’ problem solving ability, we recommend that
each mathematics instructor incorporate some problem solving projects
in the courses. We will create a database for such projects to facilitate
exchange of ideas and information between instructors. We also recommend
that some of the projects have an element of experiment and/or exploration.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Mathematics (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered
June 17, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome
listed. The intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately
below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.
__2__ Students will be able to communicate mathematics
in well-structured sentences.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_2a._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating students will be required to take part in a pilot study
program towards the end of their final semester of studies by taking
the Major Fields Test in mathematics by ETS; 50% of the students taking
the standardized examination will score at or above the National 50th
percentile.
_2a._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: One student
graduated, and took the Major Field Test with score 131.
_2a._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional
Program: The current national distribution data has not been released.
According to the past practice, this is below the national 50th
percentile. To improve the result, we will offer a one-credit review
section for graduating students.
Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_2b._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria
for Success: Exit survey will be conducted with graduating seniors.
The survey will include questions asking the students’ perception of
their own achievement pertaining to the intended outcomes; each response
will be in a scale of 0 to 4, and average of 3.0 point or better for
the responses to the relevant questions will be considered satisfactory.
_2b._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: Students
are not quite comfortable writing a short essay on mathematical topics.
_2b._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
We will specify some courses as “Writing Intensive Courses” that
specifically address students’ writing, and we will reorganize the degree
plans and move some of the writing intensive courses to earlier years
of the degree plans so that students will have more time to develop
their writing skills. We also recommend that each mathematics instructor
incorporates some writing projects in the courses, and creates a database
for such projects to facilitate exchange of ideas and information between
instructors.
Third Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_2c._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria
for Success: Final exams of each of the 3000-4000 level courses will
be reviewed by the instructor with regard to students’ writing skill,
and each exam paper will be given a point in a scale of 0 to 4. The class
average of 2.5 point or better is considered satisfactory. Instructor
will look at students’ ability to present solutions or proofs in a coherent
and readable manner.
_2c._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: The
average point was 2.4 in 4-point scale.
_2c._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
We will specify some courses as “Writing Intensive Courses” that
specifically address students’ writing, and we will reorganize the degree
plans and move some of the writing intensive courses to earlier years
in the degree plans so that students will have more time to develop
their writing skills. We also recommend that each mathematics instructor
incorporates some writing projects in the courses, and creates a database
for such projects to facilitate exchange of ideas and information among
instructors.
ASSESSMENT REPORT
FOR
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Mathematics (BA)
Instructional Degree Program
Spring 2004
Assessment Period Covered
June 17, 2004
Date Submitted
Intended Educational (Student) Outcome:
NOTE: There should be one form for each intended outcome
listed. The intended outcome should be restated in the box immediately
below and the intended outcome number entered in the blank spaces.
__3__ Students will be able to explore ideas in interdisciplinary
areas, and develop correct mathematical arguments and proofs.
First Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_3a._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria for Success:
Graduating students will be required to take part in a pilot study program
towards the end of their final semester of studies by taking the Major
Fields Test in mathematics by ETS; 70% of the students taking the standardized
examination will score at or above the National 50th percentile.
_3a._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: One student
graduated, and took the Major Field Test with score 131.
_3a._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional
Program: The current national distribution data has not been released.
According to the past practice, this is below the national 50th
percentile. To improve the result, we will offer a one-credit review
section for graduating students.
Second Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_3b._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria
for Success: Exit survey will be conducted with the graduating seniors.
The survey will include questions asking the students’ perception of
their own achievement pertaining to the intended outcome; each response
will be in a scale of 0 to 4, and average of 3.0 points or better for
the responses to the relevant questions will be considered satisfactory.
_3b._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: Students
are not comfortable writing proofs, especially if the proofs have to
be constructed from scratch.
_3b._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
We will reorganize the degree plans and move some of the proof intensive
courses to earlier years of the degree plans so that the students’ will
have more time to develop their proof related skills. We also recommend
that each mathematics instructor incorporate some proof projects in
the courses, and that some of the projects have an element of experiment
and/or exploration. We will create a database for such projects to facilitate
exchange of ideas and information among instructors.
Third Means of Assessment for Outcome Identified Above:
_3c._ Means of Program Assessment & Criteria
for Success: Final exams of each of the 3000-4000 level courses
will be reviewed by the instructor in regard to the proof-related skill,
and each exam paper will be given a point in a scale of 0 to 4. The
class average of 2.5 point is considered satisfactory. Instructor will
look at students’ ability (1) to understand correctly the statement
to be proved, (2) to find a correct strategy for a proof, and (3) to
construct a correct proof.
_3c._ Summary of Assessment Data Collected: Average
was 1.5 point in 4-point scale.
_3c._ Use of Results to Improve Instructional Program:
We will reorganize the degree plans and move some of the proof intensive
courses to earlier years in the degree plans so that students will have
more time to develop their proof related skills. We also recommend that
each mathematics instructor incorporate some proof projects in the courses,
and that some of the projects have an element of experiment and/or exploration.
We will create a database for such projects to facilitate exchange of
ideas and information among instructors.
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