Fall 2014 Assessment Results

According to the below description of Applied Mathematics Program Learning Outcomes and Assessment, 21 students were assessed for Outcome 1 in M 454. We excluded graduate students and majors from other departments.

Outcome 1  

Use rigorous mathematical reasoning or computations to establish fundamental applied mathematics concepts.

Evaluation

10 students scored Excellent, 5 students were Acceptable, 3 scored on a marginal level and 3 were Unacceptable. Since more than half of the majors scored on Excellent or Acceptable level, the assessment of the course is positive.

Recommendations

Based on the assessment as well as student comments, the course should include introduction to computational tools and programs like Matlab. With the help of such computational tools, a more open‐ended set of homework problems can be assigned.

Program Learning Outcomes

LO# Students should demonstrate the ability to:
1. Use rigorous mathematical reasoning or computations to establish fundamental applied mathematics concepts.
2. Set up mathematical models and critically interpret their results.
3. Select and implement an appropriate mathematical technique needed to analyze and validate a mathematical model.
4. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the technological tools needed to solve problems from applied mathematics.

Curriculum Map and Assessment Schedule

Course LO 1 LO 2 LO 3 LO 4 Assessment Schedule
M386      X X Odd spring semesters
M430   X     Odd spring semesters
M441 X     X Odd fall semesters
M442       X Even spring semesters
M450 X   X   Every 4th fall begins F13
M451 X X     Every 4th fall begins S14
M454 X       Every 4th fall begins F14
M455 X       Every 4th fall begins S15

Rubric

LO  Unacceptable Marginal Acceptable Excellent
1

The work is not correct
and complete because
either concepts are used
improperly or key ideas
are missing or the
organization is unlikely
to work even if a few
more ideas were
inserted.

 The work is not
correct and complete
because one or two
significant ideas are
missing, but the terms
are properly defined
and the work shows a
type of organization
that might well work if
the right ideas were
inserted in the proper
places. Also, the work
is "marginal" if most of
the work is leading
toward a correct
argument, but a false
statement is inserted.		 The work is almost
correct with relevant
concepts used and
ideas that could
work, but not well‐
organized, for
example, with some
steps out of order, or
with something
relatively minor
incomplete.		 The work is fully
correct and complete,
with the relevant
concepts properly
employed and ideas
that work, and the
steps well‐organized
into a proper sequence
2 If the work is not
correct and complete
because either there are  
fundamental gaps
in understanding of
the underlying scientific
principles or in the
understanding of the
appropriate technique
and its implementation.		 The work is not
correct and complete
because one or two
significant ideas are
missing, but the majority
of the ingredients are
present.		 The work is almost
correct with relevant
scientific concepts
and mathematical
techniques that
could work, but not
well‐organized, with
a minor omission,
misunderstanding, or
inadequate choice of
mathematical
technique.		 The work is fully
correct and complete,
with the complete
understanding of the
scientific principles of
the modeled problem
and with employment
of the appropriate
mathematical
techniques.
3 The work is not correct
and complete because
either there are
fundamental gaps in
understanding of the
underlying mathematical
assumptions or in the
understanding of the
appropriate technique  
and its implementation. 		 The work is not
correct and complete
because one or two
significant components
of the analysis or of the
implementation are
missing, but the majority
of the ingredients are
present.		 The work is almost
correct with relevant
assumptions
addressed and the
correct algorithm
chosen with an
implementation that
could work, but is
implemented with a
minor misunderstanding
of a technique or a
minor error in other
elements of the
computations.		 The work is fully
correct and complete,
with a full under-
standing of the under-
lying mathematical
assumptions that
deem a particular
mathematical
technique applicable
to a given model and
with an appropriate
knowledge of the
main principles and
techniques related to
the implementation of
a particular form of
analysis, mathematical
or numerical.
4 If less than half of the
criteria are completed.		 If at least half of the
criteria are completed.		 If three of the above are
adequately addressed.		 If all four criteria are
adequately addressed

Threshold

At least half of the majors in each of the courses are assessed as "excellent" or "acceptable" for all the learning outcomes. 

 

PDF of M454 Assessment Report