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 Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The materials are free and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Assessment of Module Goals

Overall description:

This page lists tools for assessing module as well as individual unit learning objectives. The overarching module goal is assessed in Unit 6 where students are asked to construct a conceptual model for the climate and societal impacts of a catastrophic volcanic eruption in the year 2020. Student progress toward achieving the module goal can be assessed using a concept sketch survey designed to help students reflect on their improvement in understanding Earth's climate system. Finally, individual module objectives can be assessed, in either a formative or summative manner, using answers to in class and homework questions as well as potential exam questions provided below.

Overall Module Assessments

Summative Assessment

The capstone assignment description, Capstone Project (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 829kB Nov18 16) is fairly open ended. This is intentional and allows students leeway to successfully complete this assignment in their own creative way, and with a focus on aspects of the volcanic effects to the Earth system or society that are most interesting to them. The rubric for the capstone project is included as page 4 of the assignment description.

is included to provide a list of possible answers to the compare and contrast activity at the end of this assessment (also available as a ).

Formative and Embedded Assessment

Pre, Post, and In-Module Assessment: In addition to unit-specific assessment activities, the authors have developed a survey Concept Sketch Pre and Post Survey (PDF) (Acrobat (PDF) 42kB Nov18 16) asking students to draw a conceptual sketch of energy transfers within the Earth-atmosphere system. This survey may be administered prior to the module, to assess prior knowledge, and after any of the module units to evaluate learning. It also may be used by the students to monitor their progress towards understanding Earth's energy balance (e.g., Unit 2 includes a think-pair-share activity where students will use their new knowledge to make a more complete concept sketch).

Unit Assessments

Note: Rubrics for these unit assessments are also presented on the individual unit pages.

List of Assessments by Unit:

Unit 1 Assessments:

Assessment of learning goals:

  • Unit 1, Part 1 in-class activity and following whole-class discussion assess learning goals 1 and 2
  • Think-pair-share activities and whole-class discussion following solar irradiance activity assess learning goals 3 and 4
  • Homework assignment assesses learning goals 2, 5, and 6

Formal assessment on Unit 1 materials: Students will complete homework at home.

Exam questions tied to the unit's learning goals can be found here:

Instructors may use the pre/post survey in class or as a take-home assessment tool.

Unit 2 Assessments:

Assessment of learning goals:

  • Guided think-pair-share activities within PowerPoint assess learning goal 1
  • Guided think-pair-share activities in PowerPoint, including concept sketch, assess learning goal 2
  • In-class activity assesses learning goals 3 and 4
  • Homework assignment assesses learning goal 5

Student success and comprehension will be informally assessed during the guided discussions of Part 1 and the group analysis in Part 2.

Formal, individual assessment can be done through the homework questions.

  • /

Exam questions tied to the unit's learning goals can be found here:

  • /

Instructors may use the pre/post survey in class or as a take-home assessment tool:

Unit 3 Assessments:

Unit 3 Student Handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 989kB Nov15 16) can be collected and given low stakes credit for thoughtful completion (Answers are in Unit 3 Power Point (PowerPoint 2.6MB Nov18 16)). A rubric is included within the Unit 3 Student Handout for students to self-assess themselves and/or to provide criteria for low stakes credit on this activity.

Possible exam questions with answers are included in

or .

Unit 4 Assessments:

  • Although students work in groups they are expected to complete their own worksheet and map-based concept sketch. Rubrics are provided for each of these components in the , also available as a .
  • Answers and rubric for the additional question are provided in , also available as a .
  • Exam questions tied to the unit's learning goals can be found in , also available as a .

Unit 5 Assessments:

  • Although students work in groups they are expected to complete their own graph and map-based concept sketches. Rubrics are provided for each of these components in the Student Handout Radiation Balance Jigsaw Synthesis (Microsoft Word 46kB Aug31 16), also available as a PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 97kB Aug31 16).
  • Answers and rubric for the additional question are provided in , also available as a .
  • Exam questions tied to the unit's learning goals can be found here: , also available as a .

Optional Activity Assessments:

  • Although students work in groups they are expected to complete their own worksheet, map-based concept sketch, and annotated graph. Rubrics are provided for each of these components in the file Worksheet answer key and rubrics (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 143kB Nov18 16) or PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 129kB Nov18 16).

Unit 6 Assessments:

Part A It is not expected that individual students will summarize all important aspect of their assigned volcanic eruption for full credit on Large Eruption Part A (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 162kB Nov18 16) (pdf Large Eruption Part A (Acrobat (PDF) 310kB Nov18 16)) . The Rubric for this assignment is included on page 4 of the assignment sheet. This power point presentation

described in the Teaching notes and Tips can be used as a key for basic information related to each eruption event.

An example rubric has been included in Team Guidelines (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 152kB Nov18 16) or pdf team guidelines (Acrobat (PDF) 197kB Nov18 16) for possible low stakes teamwork participation points.

Capstone Project The assignment description, Capstone Project (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 829kB Nov18 16) is fairly open ended. This is intentional and allows students leeway to successfully complete this assignment in their own creative way, and with a focus on aspects of the volcanic effects to the Earth system or society that are most interesting to them. The rubric for the capstone project is include as page 4 of the assignment description.

is included to provide a list of possible answers to the compare and contrast activity at the end of this assessment (also available as a ).

Some possible

for this unit (also available as a ). Answers are included at the end of each file.

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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »