IT Program Objectives and Outcomes

IT Program Objectives and Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

Criterion

The program has documented, measurable program educational objectives that are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies.

1.  Provide the institution’s mission statement. Include any other mission statements that are relevant.

Slippery Rock University Mission and Vision Our Vision

Slippery Rock University will excel as a caring community of lifelong learners connecting with the world.

Our Mission

The fundamental mission of Slippery Rock University is to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate academic instruction. Complementary missions are to conduct scholarly research, to promote professional performance, and to address the educationally-related economic, health, environmental, social, cultural, and recreational needs of the region served by the university. In accomplishing these missions, Slippery Rock University primarily focuses its efforts on the academic areas of:

• the arts and sciences,

• business,

• communication,

• computer and information sciences,

• environmental sciences and studies,

• health and human services, and

• teacher education.

The perspectives of Slippery Rock University are contemporary and futuristic, national and international. The university provides experiences and opportunities for students to demonstrate leadership and to develop confidence and self-reliance; it promotes their intellectual, social, and physical development; and it accomplishes these in an open, caring, nurturing, and friendly environment. Slippery Rock University is committed to serving and empowering all segments of the population that can benefit from its offerings.

The individual and collective excellence for which Slippery Rock University stands will continue to be measured by the quality of its graduates and their successes in serving society.

2.  List the program’s educational objectives. Explain how and where they are documented outside of this Self-Study.

As contained in the Major Progress Sheet that contains the list of all courses required of the major and which is used as a part of advising for all program majors, the educational objectives are:

I. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. Solve problems by creating client/server applications that are efficient, user-friendly, and portable.

II. Communication and Interpersonal skills. Use written, oral and electronic methods for effective communication.

III. Ethical and Professional Responsibilities. Discern and articulate the impact of technologies on society.

3.  Describe how your program's educational objectives align with your institution's mission.

They are aligned in two primary ways:

1. As seen above in the mission statement, computer and information sciences (which we interpret to include Information Technology) is one of the areas of primary institutional focus.

2. In the University’s Outcomes for Student Learning and Development (available from the Provost’s office at http://www.sru.edu/PAGES/14666.asp), Communication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, and Values and Ethics are the first three of the University’s stated outcomes.

Communication

Communicate effectively in speech and in writing, using appropriate information sources, presentation formats, and technologies.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Locate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and ideas from multiple perspectives—mathematical, scientific, and humanistic. Apply this information literacy to contemporary challenges.

Values and Ethics

Demonstrate an understanding of how the values of personal integrity, cooperative action, and respect for diversity influence one’s own behavior and the individual and group behavior of others.

Social Awareness and Civic Responsibility

Use knowledge of evolving human institutions and of diverse cultural and historical perspectives to interact effectively in a variety of social and political contexts.

Global Interdependence

Act with an understanding of the cultural, socio-economic, and biological interdependence of planetary life.

Personal Development

Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, as well as a commitment to wellness, and to emotional and spiritual growth.

Aesthetic Perception and Ability

Appreciate artistic expression and demonstrate an understanding of the creative process, finding vital and original ways to express feelings and insights in one’s work.

Professional Proficiency

Apply knowledge and skills to meet professional competencies within a specific discipline.

4.  Explain how the program's educational objectives align with the needs of its constituencies, and include a list of the stakeholders. Also describe the role the constituencies played in formulating the educational objectives.

The students, the faculty, and the Board of Visitors (representing the community in general) constitute the program’s stakeholders. Once a year, the department meets with groups of students and with the BOV to review ongoing assessment data and our progress toward meeting educational objectives. Historically, the educational objectives were formulated with an eye not only to University Wide Outcomes but also to preliminary feedback from industry professionals who eventually joined the BOV. As the BOV grew in the early years of the 21st century, faculty shared the educational objectives and program outcomes with the Board, which was impressed that we had such a document and that Communication was one of the objectives. The BOV indicated that new employees lacked communication skills. In 2005, the educational objectives were modified to be the three listed above in the answer to question 2. The faculty, BOV, and students believed that Problem Solving and Critical Thinking overlapped greatly; therefore, collapsing the two into one objective would facilitate the data collection process.

5.  For each program educational objective, indicate the mechanism(s) used to measure it.

Each of the program’s three objectives: (1) Problem Solving and Critical Thinking (PS&CT); (2) Communication and Interpersonal Skills (C&IS; and (3) Ethical and Professional Responsibilities (E&PR) are currently assessed with alumni surveys, student surveys, and feedback from the BOV and student club. Each Fall, students in gateway courses at the sophomore, junior, and senior levels are surveyed via Blackboard for each of these areas. Since Fall 2009, alumni working as IT professionals have been surveyed after contacting them via email and Facebook. Previously, an internship survey was used in place of an alumni survey; however, the internship survey data were eventually determined to be statistically insignificant because the sample population became too small. All these survey instruments are in Appendix IV. Each fall, faculty members meet to decide what areas to focus on during that academic year. The BOV provides feedback every year to the faculty to help improve the program. Faculty use all these sources of input to improve courses and the program as a whole.

Program Outcomes

Criterion

The program has documented measurable outcomes that are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies.

The program enables students to achieve, by the time of graduation:

(a)  An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline;

(b)  An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution;

(c)  An ability to design, implement and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs;

(d)  An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal;

(e)  An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities;

(f)  An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;

(g)  An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations and society;

(h)  Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, continuing professional development;

(i)  An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practices.

For information technology programs:

(j)  An ability to use and apply current technical concepts and practices in the core information technologies;

(k)  An ability to identify and analyze user needs and take them into account in the selection, creation, evaluation and administration of computer-based systems;

(l)  An ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment;

(m)  An understanding of best practices and standards and their application;

(n)  An ability to assist in the creation of an effective project plan.

1.  List the program’s outcomes. Discuss how and where they are documented outside of this Self-Study.

Information Technology Student Learning Outcomes
I. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. Solve problems by creating client/server applications that are efficient, user-friendly, and portable. The student will be able to:
a.  Apply programming and system management techniques to address information technology problems.
b.  Integrate design and implementation principles to develop effective web pages.
c.  Perform critical analyses of the impacts of decisions.
d.  Implement IT solutions that consist of system and application software written in various programming languages.
e.  Create efficient, graphical client/server applications.
II. Communication and Interpersonal skills. Use written, oral and electronic methods for effective communication. The student will be able to:
a.  Document all aspects of a system precisely and clearly.
b.  Use written, oral, and electronic communication to convey technical information effectively.
c.  Devise effective user interfaces for the web.
d.  Work cooperatively in teams and with others.
III. Ethical and Professional Responsibilities. Discern and articulate the impact of technologies on society. The student will be able to:
a.  Determine the economic and organizational effects of information technology on global society.
b.  Recognize important legal issues and demonstrate appropriate social responsibilities in information technology.
c.  Demonstrate an awareness of the codes of professional ethics in the information technology industry.
d.  Plan for and ensure the security, privacy, and integrity of data.
e.  Recognize the need for continuing professional development.

The outcomes are linked to the Computer Science Department’s web page and are on the back of the progress sheet for the major. The pertinent outcome is mapped to course outcome on course syllabi.

2.  For each program outcome, indicate the mechanism(s) used to measure it.

Each outcome is measured both indirectly and directly. Indirect assessment occurs during the sophomore and junior years, and also prior to graduation. Students are surveyed via Blackboard in gateway courses (see Appendix V for survey questions). Direct (course-embedded) assessment is done in courses either through assignments, exams, oral presentations, teamwork, or written papers. Assessment data is collected (please see course binder for samples) for each outcome in at least two different courses (see Appendix VI for sample rubrics). Most outcomes are assessed in three courses as depicted here:

Educational
Objective / Program
Outcome / Courses
PS&CT / a / 207, 217, 311, 327, 423, 427
PS&CT / b / 130, 140, 217
PS&CT / c / 217, 413
PS&CT / d / 317, 323, 423
PS&CT / e / 130, 140, 317
C&IS / a / 130, 217, 413
C&IS / b / 300 (written papers)
317 (oral presentation)
413 (written papers)
427 (written report)
427 (oral report)
C&IS / c / 317, 413, 427
C&IS / d / 300, 413, 427
E&PR / a / 130, 300, 427
E&PR / b / 130, 207, 300
E&PR / c / 130, 140, 207
E&PR / d / 323, 327, 423
E&PR / e / 207, 217, 300, 323, 423

3.  Explain the relationship between the outcomes and the needs of the program’s constituencies. Also explain the role played by the various constituencies in formulating the program outcomes.

Our constituents consist of faculty, students and our BOV. The course outcomes were drafted by faculty in 1998, in response to the Governor’s request for the creation of IT programs. The program outcomes were drafted against the national backdrop of needs identified by the US Department of Labor. After the creation of the outcomes, modifications were made to them by the faculty (as a result of the assessment process) and then approved by the BOV.

4.  Indicate how your program outcomes map to your program educational objectives.

The three program educational objectives (Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, and Ethical and Professional Responsibilities) are each associated with five, four, and five program outcomes, respectively. The educational objectives are shown with their outcomes in the answer to question 1 above.

5. State the program outcomes enabled by each course, and, if an outcome enables more than one of CAC’s (a) – (i) and program outcomes, what CAC outcomes are enabled. Also, if the CAC outcome enabled by a program outcome includes more than one aspect such as “professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities” or “local and global impact,” state which portion of the CAC outcome is enabled.

The following table is a legend that describes the mapping between SRU’s Information Technology Outcomes and ABET Outcomes. This legend will assist in understanding the course Outcome table that follows.

IT Outcome / ABET Outcome /
C&IS a. Document all aspects of a system precisely and clearly. / f. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
C&IS b. Use written, oral, and electronic communication to convey technical information effectively
C&IS c. Devise effective user interfaces for the web.
C&IS c. Devise effective user interfaces for the web. / l. An ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment
C&IS d. Work cooperatively in teams and with others. / d. An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal
E&PR a. Determine the economic and organizational effects of information technology on global society. / g. An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society
E&PR b. Recognize important legal issues and demonstrate appropriate social responsibilities in information technology. / m. An understanding of best practices and standards and their application
E&PR b. Recognize important legal issues and demonstrate appropriate social responsibilities in information technology. / e. An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues and responsibilities
E&PR c. Demonstrate an awareness of the codes of professional ethics in the information technology industry.
E&PR d. Plan for and ensure the security, privacy, and integrity of data. / i. An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice
E&PR e. Recognize the need for continuing professional development. / h. Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in continuing professional development
PS&CT a. Apply programming and system management techniques to address information technology problems. / n. An ability to assist in the creation of an effective project plan
PS&CT b. Integrate design and implementation principles to develop effective web pages / c. An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs
PS&CT c. Perform critical analyses of the impacts of decisions / a. An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline
PS&CT d. Implement IT solutions that consist of system and application software written in various programming languages. / b. An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution
k. An ability to identify and analyze user needs and take them into account in the selection, creation, evaluation and administration of computer-based systems
PS&CT e. Create efficient, graphical client/server applications. / j. An ability to use and apply current technical concepts and practices in the core information technologies
l. An ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment
i. An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice

Course Outcome Table