Download Assessment-Earl Burnett Spring 2008

From: Earl Burnett
To:
Fred Croxen
Subject: Spring 2008 GLG-101, GLG-110 Assessment
May 20, 2008 Tuesday
Attached is the brief quiz that I used for my assessment analysis. This quiz was given
after each student completed the final exam. They were told that the quiz would not
affect their grade in the course—a mistake on my part because they, for the most part,
probably did not take the quiz seriously. I would not give too much value to the results
but here are the results and my analysis of the results.
My assessment categories were (1) EARTHQUAKES, (2)THE EARTH, (3) ROCKS
and MINERALS, and, for GLG-110 only, (4) GLOBAL WARMING and CLIMATE
CHANGE. Category (4) for GLG-110 was the single true or false question: Is there
any longer any doubt that global warming and associated climate change are happening,
scientifically speaking?
AVERAGE SCORES (percentages indicate correct answers):
Overall Aver. EQ’s Aver. The Earth Aver. Rx & Min.Aver. G.Warming Av.
G101:
60%
74%
61%
54%
_____
G110:
41%
78%
64%
15%
72%(false)
Twenty students turned in the G101 assessment quiz. There was very little coverage of
global warming and climate change in G101 (1:40 – 4:20 pm, Tues. and Thurs.).
Eighteen students turned in the G110 assessment quiz. There was less coverage of rocks
and minerals but more coverage of global warming and climate change. These students
were generally older and seemed more questioning about the presented material in G110
(5:55 – 8:35 pm, Tues. and Thurs.).
What I learned for the future.
(1) The assessment questions should be embedded in and scattered through the final
exam. The students do not need to know that assessment is being done.
(2) The assessment questions should be of variable formats (true-false, multiple
choice, short answer…).
(3) Perhaps at least 20 questions should be used for assessment.
(4) All introductory geology students should be assessed, using the same questions.
(5) Categories should include volcanism, streams, ground water as well as
earthquakes, the earth (interior, plate tectonics), rocks and minerals, weather and
climate change.
(6) G101 should include instruction on climate change.
(7) Many students had poor comprehension of the size of the earth (earth’s radius of
4000 miles). There is a good outdoor exercise that could be used to emphasize
the dimensions and makeup of the earth’s interior.
(8) There needs to be more emphasis on oral offerings by students as well as the
written requirements. The oral participation could help fix the material in a
student’s memory better.
(9) Field trips are good but there should be more outdoor labwork. Outdoor labwork
does not require travel.
(10) Teamwork is good.
(11) A pre-assessment quiz should be given to all students at the beginning of the
semester.
May 13, 2008, Tuesday
Geology Assessment Test
Name_________________
Earthquakes
1. List two ways to measure earthquake strength.
(1) a measure of observed effects_____________________.
(2) a measure of energy released______________________.
2. How many earthquakes occur globally every year, all magnitudes?
a. 2
b. 130
c. 900,000
d. more than 2 million
3. True or False. The number of earthquakes around the world is, on average,
neither increasing nor decreasing.
4. True or False. Yuma lies within a high risk earthquake zone.
The Earth
5. How old is the earth?
6. What is the radius of the earth in miles?
7. Earth’s lithosphere is broken up into about a dozen pieces called plates that
slowly move around on the slowly convecting mantle. What is this theory called?
8. True or False. Part of the earth’s interior is hollow.
9. Is the earth’s magnetic field reversing? Yes or No.
Rocks and Minerals
10. How many known minerals are there?
11. List the five attributes of minerals.
12. What is a mineral?
13. What are rocks?
14. What are the three main rock groups?
15. What is the largest mineral group?
16. What are the two most abundant elements in the earth’s crust?
17. G110 only: True or False. Is there any longer any doubt that global warming and
associated climate change are happening, scientifically speaking?