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Assessment : 2011 - 2012 : Educational Programs :
Curriculum and Instruction MED

3 Goals    3 Objectives    3 Indicators    3 Criteria    3 Findings    3 Actions


GOAL: Scholarly Candidates - Presentations

Objective  
Graduate Candidates Will Develop Skills To Make Scholarly Professional Presentations.
Candidates in the Curriculum and Instruction Masters of Education program will demonstrate kills in scholarly professional presentation by presenting research at professional conferences.

Indicator  
Graduate Candidate Presentations  
Annual number of Masters of Education graduate students presentations at professional conferences compared to 2011-2012 academic year. In our growing efforts to encourage research and thesis in our graduate programs, candidates will be supported in their efforts to complete action research and present their research at professional conferences.  There is a rubric (attached to criterion) to measure the quality of the presentation.
Criterion  
Graduate Professional Presentations  
Increase in the number of professional presentations by the Masters of Education graduate candidates in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  Last year was the first year for this goal and there were two presentations made by graduate candidates, so that is our baseline.

Last year we observed some areas where the presentations could be strengthened.  We determined to spend more time teaching research techniques and strategies as well as provide more instruction in maintaining a logical order to the presentation. We are eager to determine if our interventions did strengthen the presentation.
Finding  
Desired Competence Criteria Achieved  
Areas were strengthened and presenters scored better than last year. The overall number of students increased slightly from last year (+2).
Actions for Objective:

Action  
Areas For Improvement  
As a department we will address the quality of candidates' presentations and will pursue quality presentations for area, state-wide and national/international conferences.



GOAL: Leaders In Curriculum Development And Instruction

Objective  
Candidates Will Demonstrate Knowledge Of Current Research In Curriculum Development And Instructional Strategies.
Candidates who demonstrate mastery have acquired the knowledge and skills to be leaders in curriculum development and instruction in their fields.


Indicator  
Comprehensive Examinations  
During the last semester of the masters program, candidates are required to take their comprehensive examinations. Each candidate must answer questions from a faculty-development comprehensive examination that integrates practice and theory.  Faculty score the questions for accuracy of content, use of APA style and writing fluency.  Candidates are then awarded either:  High Pass, Pass, or Did Not Pass.

Criterion  
Pass Scores  
Candidates will receive "Pass" or "High Pass" on their comprehensive examination. These exams are blind scored by faculty in Curriculum and Instruction or the candidates' content area.

We worked on APA formatting for references and internal documentation, two weaknesses that emerged last year.  We anticipate better scores in these areas.
Finding  
Desired Competence Was Accomplished  
All students taking comprehensive exams (not a large number) scored "pass" or "high pass" on their comps.  No particular weakness was evident, especially since we are chaning the format for the future.
Actions for Objective:

Action  
Fewer Comprehensive Exams In The Future  
As the MED in C&I closes the phase of comprehensive exams and moves toward the Capstone Research paper and presentation we will have fewer candidates who qualify for this criterion. There is only a handful left currently.


GOAL: Scholarly Candidates - Research

Objective  
Graduate Candidates Capstone Project
Candidates in the Curriculum and Instruction Master's of Education program will demonstrate research skills presenting capstone research projects at the culmination of the program.

Indicator  
Graduate Candidates Capstone Project  
At the end of each candidate's Master's Degree program they are required to take CIED 5370 and CIED 5385. These two courses present educational research, introducing each candidate to the concept of conducting research. Each candidate is required to conduct a research project, write the project, and present the project to a panel of professors in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
Criterion  
Scores Of Pass  
All candidates will have their research project reviewed and critiqued in preparation for the final presentation. Eighty percent of candidates will receive approval on their research project by the committee of C&I professors.

Last year we determined to strengthen communication with students detailing the requirements of the Capstone research projects.  This emphasis should increase the integration of research, writing, and publishing.
Finding  
Desired Competence Was Achieved  
A considerably higher number than eighty-percent of our candidates received approval for their Capstone Research Presentation. This work is taken very seriously by the candidate, the professor teaching the class, and the professors serving on the committee.
Actions for Objective:

Action  
Continued Improvement  
Faculty in C&I associated with the MED program will work with candidates with the successful completion of their Capstone Research Project.



Closing the Loop

During the 11-12 academic year the MED program in Curriculum and Instruction was successful in all criterion areas. We still desire to increase the number of professional presentations by our graduate students by one or two each year. These goals are on-going for us into the 12-13 academic years and the program will strive for excellence.


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Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341
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