Assessment

Why do we do this?
The reason to do assessment is to make our courses better for our students. As in manufacturing we need to monitor our processes (courses) to be sure a quality (educated) product (student) is consistently produced. So the data collected guides us as to when/how/why we should make changes in courses and curriculum. We try to assess ourselves at many different levels and using many different techniques. This process diagram shows the ways we assess, how the information routes and who acts on it.

How do we do it?
As a faculty we define outcomes and objectives . Outcomes are the skills we want our students to have at graduation. Objectives are the lifelong skills we hope to give them. Each course lists the outcomes that are addressed in that course, and we regularly check to see that our courses are teaching those skills

What do we do?
Direct measures of student performance are taken by examining student homework, tests and or labs. They are evaluated using rubrics developed by the department and college.

Direct measures of student performance are taken twice a year when the Software Engineering 2 project teams present to the Advisory Board. This is especially valuable as we get feedback from the major employers of our students. They also advise us on issues of curriculum development.

Indirect measures are taken via the senior exit interview, employer and alumni surveys, summaries of employment data and student assessment of instruction.

Course reviews, once every three years each course is discussed at a faculty meeting. This ensures course flow well with each other, and that the entire faculty are aware of all course content.

Every year we make a report of these measures, and changes that we will/have made to address any weaknesses found.

ETSU Department of Computer and Information Sciences Educational Objectives

The ETSU Computer and Information Sciences Department seeks to produce well-prepared computing graduates who in their careers:

  • Exhibit high standards of responsibility and ethics,
  • Communicate effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders,
  • Keep current in their fields of expertise, and
  • Apply computing knowledge to real-world problems.

ETSU Department of Computer and Information Sciences General Outcomes

  1. Each graduate will have the ability to perform well as part of an organization.
    1. Each graduate will possess good oral communication skills.
    2. Each graduate will possess good written communication skills.
    3. Each graduate will have the ability to perform as an integral part of a team.
  2. Each graduate will have the ability to perform well as a part of society.
    1. Each graduate will have the ability to recognize, discuss and answer questions about a broad range of social, ethical, legal, global and professional issues in the computing field.
    2. Each graduate will be prepared with the skills necessary to become life-long learners.
  3. Each graduate will possess core knowledge of computer fundamentals.
    1. Each graduate will understand and apply database management systems.
    2. Each graduate will understand computer networks and networking.
  4. Each graduate will possess problem solving skills.
    1. Each graduate will have knowledge of the theory and application of discrete math.
    2. Each graduate, given an end-user problem statement, will have the ability to completely and accurately identify the requirements, resources and approaches needed to implement a solution.
  5. Each graduate will possess the ability to create computer-based solutions.
    1. Each graduate will understand the software life cycle.
    2. Each graduate will understand how security issues impact his or her solutions.
    3. Each graduate will have the ability to use classic and current tools to implement a solution to a given problem. This includes knowledge of two programming languages and mastery of at least one.

Computer Science-Specific Outcomes

  1. Each graduate of the Computer Science Concentration will have the ability to apply his or her knowledge of the theoretical basis of computation, computer architecture, and systems software in the design of systems and applications.
  2. Each graduate of the Computer Science Concentration will have the ability to develop software systems by using established principles and techniques for systems analysis, design and implementation.

Information Systems Science-Specific Outcomes

  1. Each graduate of the Information Systems Science Concentration will have the ability to develop, configure, and maintain business information system solutions.
    1. Each graduate will have the ability to configure an information system to conform to contemporary business structures and processes.
    2. Each graduate will have the ability to develop and maintain applications within an information systems framework.
  2. Each graduate of the Information Systems Science Concentration will have the ability to analyze and apply computing resources and techniques within a specific professional environment.
    1. Each graduate will have the ability to analyze and present the flow of information in strategic and operational information systems within a business environment.
    2. Each graduate will have the ability to apply computing resources within business processes in his or her chosen emphasis area. 

Information Technology-Specific Outcomes

  1. Each graduate of the Information Technology Concentration will have the ability to plan and implement web applications that conform to industrial standards using current tools and technologies.
    1. Each graduate will have the ability to design, implement and manage a secure server side web application with broad user interface capabilities.
    2. Each graduate will have the ability to plan and create successful web applications congruent with the needs of the target audience and the objectives of the client.
  2. Each graduate of the Information Technology Concentration will have the ability to design, implement, and administer heterogeneous networks, clients and servers  using current tools, utilities and scripting languages that conform to industrial protocols and security standards.
  3. Each graduate of the Information Technology Concentration will have the ability to integrate human computer interaction (HCI) techniques to applications with a solid understanding of HCI’s critical role in software engineering.
Last Updated 6/4/2012