Fall 2005 Honors CIHE class

Declining by degrees DVD

comments? thoughts?

posted by maestro @ 1:39 PM 0 comments

Academic learning compacts

Each major in Florida state universities, per resolution of the Florida Board of Governors, must set forth student learning outcomes for each bachelor's degree program. These are called academic learning compacts.

So each department is working on these right now.

Here is a sample, from the IDS major (Interdisciplinary studies in biochemistry or neuroscience):

Student Learning Outcomes

Content Knowledge/Skills
1 Understanding of and competence in biochemistry, molecular biology, molecular cell biology, or neurobiological sciences, as specified in baccalaureate degree syllabus.
2 Understand and use the scientific approach to gathering and verifying knowledge.
3 Ability to draw appropriate conclusions and inferences from properly conducted laboratory research

Critical Thinking Skills
4 Ability to evaluate the significance, quality and veracity of information gathered experimentally and in the literature and to apply effectively
Communication Skills
5 Demonstrated ability to articulate research results clearly in accepted style of presentation

Individual Student Assessments
1 Completion of requirement for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.
2 Pass the CLAST examination before the beginning of Tracking Term 5.
3 Satisfactory completion of IDS 4906 thesis (capping 7-12 credits of thesis research) requiring demonstration of SLOs 1 through 5 above, graded according to department rubric.

Why would the FBOG want these?
What objections or issues would come from the faculty of the departments?

posted by maestro @ 9:17 AM 0 comments

General education and learning

There is a renewed emphasis on general education and student learning nationally. Recently, the University of Georgia organized a task force on the quality of undergraduate education and made several recommendations. Here is the full report.

Does UF care about student learning?
What initiatives make sense in this report?
Which ones are not so good?
What ideas would you like to see implemented at UF?

posted by maestro @ 6:37 AM 0 comments

Grade inflation

It is commonly accepted information that grade inflation is something that has taken over the U.S. At Princeton, they are working hard to reduce the number of A grades given to students. Here is a link to their results.

Does grade inflation exist in college? at UF? in your high schools?

posted by maestro @ 6:23 AM 0 comments

Alligator cartoon

There have been several "official letters" from the University administration (Dr. Machen, Dr. Telles-Irvin) about the first editorial cartoon published in the Alligator on Sept. 13 and the "revised" editorial cartoon on Sept. 19. The editorial in the Sept. 19 Alligator by the editorial staff was also important.

Here are a few questions to think about:
1. What is the relationship and role of an independent student newspaper?
2. Is this an important issue for the president and vice-president of student affairs?
3. What was the intended meaning of the cartoon? What was the effect of the cartoon?
--Jeanna

posted by maestro @ 6:08 AM 1 comments

September 2005

OK, this is where you should post for the month of September 2005. Feel free to post on any topics that interest you--I will separate them out into different postings if there is a good discussion going. We'll see if this works better.

posted by maestro @ 6:03 AM 0 comments