Assessing Critical Thinking Assessing Critical Thinking and Quantitative Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning

in MA 103in MA 103Gerald Kruse, PhD.Gerald Kruse, PhD.

Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer ScienceAssociate Professor of Mathematics and Computer ScienceJuniata CollegeJuniata CollegeHuntingdon, PAHuntingdon, PA

kruse@juniata.eduhttp://faculty.juniata.edu/krusehttp://faculty.juniata.edu/kruse

A Wise Man Once Said…A Wise Man Once Said…

"I know this isn't true about your faculty," he said to chuckles from the audience, but "a lot of our faculty ... aren't wild about assessment. It makes the hair go up on the back of their necks."

"I have to persuade them that the CLA has meaning," he said.

A Wise Man Once Said…A Wise Man Once Said…

"I know this isn't true about your faculty," he said to chuckles from the audience, but "a lot of our faculty ... aren't wild about assessment. It makes the hair go up on the back of their necks."

"I have to persuade them that the CLA has meaning," he said.

Provost Jim Lakso, August 4, 2008 http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/08/04/cla

Pipeline Faculty ChecklistPipeline Faculty Checklist

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.28. Cite your Provost in a SoTL Lunch Discussion (see #29).

Pipeline Faculty ChecklistPipeline Faculty Checklist

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.28. Cite your Provost in a SoTL Lunch Discussion (see #29).

29. When citing your Provost in a SoTL Lunch Discussion, make sure he is not attending an Executive Committee Meeting instead.

Big PictureBig Picture

Close-up on one “CLA-like” projectClose-up on one “CLA-like” project

Input? Feedback? Under Construction…Input? Feedback? Under Construction…

MA 103, Quantitative Methods, aka “QM”MA 103, Quantitative Methods, aka “QM”“Mathematics 103 prepares students to be quantitatively literate citizens in today's “Mathematics 103 prepares students to be quantitatively literate citizens in today's

world. By learning to world. By learning to think critically about quantitative issuesthink critically about quantitative issues, , students will be able to make responsible decisions in their daily lives. Problems are students will be able to make responsible decisions in their daily lives. Problems are analyzed and solved using numerical, graphical, statistical, and algebraic reasoning. analyzed and solved using numerical, graphical, statistical, and algebraic reasoning. Technology is used to help visualize data and facilitate calculations, as well as to Technology is used to help visualize data and facilitate calculations, as well as to

present quantitative output and verbal argumentspresent quantitative output and verbal arguments . ”. ”

Collegiate Learning Assessment, (CLA), Collegiate Learning Assessment, (CLA), Performance Task GoalsPerformance Task Goals““Critical Thinking, Analytic Reasoning, and Problem SolvingCritical Thinking, Analytic Reasoning, and Problem Solving

“Written Communication”“Written Communication”

*I am aware we could make this linkage for most classes…*I am aware we could make this linkage for most classes…

Big PictureBig Picture

Leveraging “Existing Frameworks”Leveraging “Existing Frameworks”

Currently in MA 103:Currently in MA 103:

Quantitative Skills AssessmentQuantitative Skills AssessmentPre and Post (first and last day of semester, Pre and Post (first and last day of semester, does not count toward final grade)does not count toward final grade)

Quantitative Attitudes SurveyQuantitative Attitudes SurveyPre and Post (first and last day of semester)Pre and Post (first and last day of semester)

Daily Activities and Daily Activities and 3 Open-ended Projects3 Open-ended Projects

Modifying MA 103 to Assess Improvements Modifying MA 103 to Assess Improvements in Quantitative Reasoning/Critical Thinkingin Quantitative Reasoning/Critical Thinking

(Warning: This is a work in-progress!)(Warning: This is a work in-progress!)

Use a “CLA-like” performance task as a Use a “CLA-like” performance task as a pre and post assessmentpre and post assessment

Construct Projects 01, 02, and 03 using Construct Projects 01, 02, and 03 using CLA guidelinesCLA guidelines

Is performance better on the post-Is performance better on the post-assessment?assessment?

Timing and $ precluded licensing and Timing and $ precluded licensing and adaptation of “retired” CLA performance adaptation of “retired” CLA performance task for pre/post assessment this task for pre/post assessment this semestersemesterJust not enough time to do it properly…Just not enough time to do it properly…

Implemented a “CLA-like” Project 01Implemented a “CLA-like” Project 01See for yourself…See for yourself…

Too much funToo much funNames, writing in character…Names, writing in character…

MA 103, Project 02MA 103, Project 02

Keep our characterKeep our character

Analyze loans, loan table, interest, etc…Analyze loans, loan table, interest, etc…(a component in previous Projects)(a component in previous Projects)

Write a letter to parents describing desire Write a letter to parents describing desire to switch from ESS to finance or to switch from ESS to finance or accounting, hope to test web-site accounting, hope to test web-site evaluation skillsevaluation skills