The Current Refocusing of General Education

Objectives for the Workshop

• Proposing and/or Renewing a Course• Assessing the general education aspect of the

course• The Annual Report• Discussion: the role of General Education in

the undergraduate degree

Broad Goals of General Education Courses

• support students in the acquisition of knowledge and insights associated with the subject matter of the specific discipline

• provide students with experience in how thought and learning are conducted in the General Education area

• add substantively to students’ development of the primary general education learning competency

The LSU Student Profile: 6 Learning Competencies

• Communicate complex knowledge in multiple media• Develop discourse with historical, cultural and

philosophical complexity (Humanities)• Conduct effective research-based inquiry (English

Comp and Art)• Employ scientific and mathematical models in solving

problems (Natural Sciences, Analytical Reasoning)• Be conversant with informing factors of global

interdependence (Social Sciences)• Be intelligently engaged in service to community

Proposing/Renewing a Course for General Education

• Syllabus• Justification based on area criteria• Description of course pedagogy that

addresses general education competency• Description of valid, reliable method for

assessing students’ achievement of competency

General Education CoursesApproval – Assessment - Renewal

INITIAL COURSE APPROVAL

ANNUAL COURSE ASSESSMENT

5-YEAR COURSE RENEWAL

Policies on Course Proposals and Reports

• Schedule for the 5-year course renewal

• The Annual Report, including data (June 15)

Policies/Deadlines on Course Proposals and Reports

• General Education Annual Report – June 15th (Assessment data and departmental interpretation)

• Five-Year Course Renewal

• Non-Compliance

Annual Course Report on Student Achievement of Competency

(1) data gathered through implementation of the assessment methods (2) Summary of data analysis by the teaching faculty, with ref. to teaching strategies(3) Statement of impact of analysis on structure and content of the course going forward(4) expression of contribution the course is making to student learning in Gen Ed

Profile of Sufficiently Prepared Student

• Inquiry and analysis• Critical and creative thinking• Written and oral communication• Quantitative literacy• Information literacy• Teamwork and problem solving• Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general

and specialized studies• Civic knowledge and engagement- local and global• Intercultural knowledge and competence• Ethical reasoning and action• Foundations for lifelong learning

1987-2009: General Education “Requirement”

• 39 course credit hours• Specific distribution requirement across 6

general education areas• Loosely construed learning goals/outcomes

for student learning • No requirement for intentionality

2009-Present: General Education “Component” of Undergraduate

Education• 39 course credit hours • Specific distribution requirement across 6

general education areas• 6 student learning competencies• Intentionality in course design• Focused assessment of student learning of

specific competency

Why Competencies?• Institutional - 2008-2009 Course Review -

Showed many the stated learning outcomes not addressed

• Regional - SACSCOC: CS 3.5.1 - The institution determines General Education Competencies and the Extent to which students achieve them.

• National - Consensus on general profile of well-prepared graduates

Categories of General Education Assessment

1. Assessment of Competencies at course level

2. Assessment of Graduating Seniors

3. Nationally normed assessments

LSU Student Profile As Evidenced Through Triangulated Assessments

• For more information http://www.cae.lsu.edu/genedhome/