ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING IN THE GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT UPRM Fernando Gilbes Santaella Assessment Coordinator UPRM-Department of Geology gilbes@cacique.uprm.edu

Some Facts of the Department Founded in 1967 by Dr. John D. Weaver Graduate program started in 1995 It currently has 11 professors With over 100 undergraduate students and around 20 graduate students

Students graduated in the Department of Geology during the last 11 years

Geology Department Vision The Geology Department of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez seeks to provide the highest levels of education through continuous revision and expansion of our educational, research, and outreach programs in order to produce well-trained, competent, academic and professional geoscientists capable of responding to societal needs.

Geology Department Mission The Geology Department will develop in each student, critical thinking, enthusiasm, initiative and the necessary skills to become lifelong students of Earth Sciences. Emphasis will be placed on learning basic concepts and techniques through research, in an environment that promotes the development of professionals with social, cultural and humanistic sensibility as well as profound ethical values.

Geology Student Profile Skills and Values Critical thinking and problem solving skills Team working skills Communication skills in Spanish and English Computer literacy and its scientific applications Knowledge of up-to-date scientific tools and techniques Awareness of contemporary scientific issues Awareness of ethical implications in science Ability to learn by him/herself (lifelong learners) Knowledge Scientific Concepts Paleontology Sedimentology and Stratigraphy Structure &Tectonics Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (including volcanology) Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology Hydrogeology Geophysics and Seismology Environmental Geology Geochemistry Engineering Geology Mineralogy Knowledge of the Geology of Puerto Rico

Assessment of student learning As first step, we prepared a questionnaire focused on the curriculum Three major areas were evaluated: skills and values scientific knowledge overall performance Recommendation were generated for closing the loop of assessment.

The questionnaire was submitted to 44 junior and senior students 29 students enrolled in fall 2004 Geol 4045 (Petrogenesis of Crystalline Rocks) Geol 4046 (Sedimentary Env. and Lithogenesis) Geol 5026 (Tectonics) 15 students enrolled in spring 2005 Geol 4009 (Stratigraphy) Geol 4057 (Environmental Geophysics) Geol 5006 (Sedimentation) The average enrollment in the Geology Department is 100 students per semester, which means that the collected data represented around 29 % in fall 2004 and 15% in spring 2005 of the entire students’ population.

Effectiveness of the curriculum in developing skills and values

Effectiveness of the curriculum in developing scientific knowledge

Percent (%) of students that consider as poor or deficient the effectiveness of the curriculum in developing the knowledge of specific fields in the Geology Department Field Area Dec 04 May 05 Paleontology 26 27 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 13 Structure &Tectonics 15 20 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 7 Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology 4 Hydrogeology 44 Geophysics and Seismology 41 Environmental Geology 11 Geochemistry 63 54 Engineering Geology Mineralogy Geology of Puerto Rico 37

Performance of the Geology Department according to the interviewed students Criteria Dec 04 May 05 Variety of Courses C Laboratory Equipment and Facilities Faculty B Flexible Curriculum Courses Content Research Opportunities OVERALL PERFORMANCE

Main Conclusions of the Curriculum Assessment In the last 11 years we have graduated 108 students, of which 50% have been Hispanic females (an underrepresented group in US). Our curriculum is strong in developing skills and values. But, scientific tools and techniques, and ethics must be improved. The curriculum is strong in sedimentology, stratigraphy, geophysics, seismology, geomorphology, and mineralogy. However, according to students it is poor or deficient in geochemistry. The overall performance was graded B+, which demonstrate that we are okay, but must improve certain areas.

Closing the Assessment Loop in Geochemistry Hired a geochemistry professor in fall 2005. Specific assessment for geochemistry topics in spring 2006. IMPROVEMENT ASSESSMENT

A similar questionnaire with geochemistry topics was submitted to all faculty and 14 senior students registered in the Caribbean Geology course Four main areas were selected with a total of 67 topics. phase diagrams/phase equilibria (22 topics) thermodynamics (9 topics) igneous/metamorphic petrology (26 topics) stable isotope geochemistry (10 topics) * The main areas and topics were suggested by the new geochemistry professor.

Examples of Questionnaire For Faculty Thermodynamics Topic Not covered Briefly mentioned Covered in detail Ideal Gas Law Law’s of Thermodynamics Equilibrium Constant For Students Thermodynamics Topic Never heard of Familiar, but don’t remember I know this well Ideal Gas Law Law’s of Thermodynamics Equilibrium Constant

Faculty Results

Students Results

Percent (%) of students that consider as poor or deficient the effectiveness of the Geology curriculum in developing the geochemistry knowledge New professor in geochemistry

Final Conclusions/Further Steps Additional assessments suggest that our deficiency in geochemistry is due to the wrong impression produced by lacking a professor in that area. Many geochemistry topics are part of current courses, but apparently the students do not recognize them as part of their scientific knowledge in that specific area. Since there is not a specific course in geochemistry the students think they are not receiving that knowledge. A course in geochemistry will be offered in spring of 2007. Geology Symposium in Geochemistry.

Next Step in Assessment Undergraduate Research Two semesters vs. one semester Time table for proposal, research, written report and oral presentation Amount of students per professor Selected areas of research Professors vs. students expectations Next semester we will start the analyses of the data already collected during the last two years.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Faculty of the Geology Department Johannes Schellekens (Department’s Director) Wilson Ramirez (member of the assessment committee) Aaron Cavosie (geochemistry professor) “Oficina de Avalúo para el Aprendizaje y Mejoramiento Continuo” of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences