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Download a zip file that includes all the web pages and downloadable files from the instructor's materialsAssessment of Module Goals
Below, you will find a list of assessments for each unit of the module, as well as assessments for the module as a whole. Each unit has associated with it formative and/or summative assessments to measure student progress toward individual unit learning outcomes. Additionally, the three embedded assessment questions below are particularly helpful at measuring student progress toward key points of understanding in the overall module. These questions focus specifically on using data to determine where, when, and how hurricanes happen, how land and human systems are affected, how to deal with uncertainty in forecasts, and both societal and personal responses to risks. Finally, to assess overall learning in this module, you will find a summative assessment question directly related to the overriding module goal. This question directly assesses how well students can integrate what they have learned about hurricane science and forecast uncertainty with societal impacts of hurricanes.
Summative Assessment
What data would you like to have as a government official making the decision about whether to order an evacuation prior to a hurricane landfall? Explain the challenges of making such a decision to evacuate prior to hurricane landfall 1) from the perspective of a local government official, and 2) from your own personal perspective.
Pre-Instruction Assessment (repeated as Post-Instruction Assessment)
Administer on the first day of class or outside of class in the first week. Then, use the same assessment after the module is complete.
1. Who of the following is at the most risk (to life and property) from hurricanes?
- A. Person A in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who rents an apartment
- B. Person B in Far Rockaway, New York, who owns a luxury hotel
- C. Person C in St. Paul, Minnesota, who owns a construction business
How confident are you about your answer? (Circle one) Very / Mostly / Somewhat / Not Very / Not at all
2. Select all that apply. What conditions are necessary for hurricane formation?
- A. atmospheric instability
- B. sea surface temperature > 27 C
- C. sea surface temperature
- D. little or no vertical wind shear
- E. significant vertical wind shear
- F. within 10 degrees of the equator
- G. at least 5 to 10 degrees north or south of the equator
How confident are you about your answer? (Circle one) Very / Mostly / Somewhat / Not Very / Not at all
3. Which of these hazards are often associated with hurricanes? Select as many as apply.
- A. high winds
- B. heavy rain
- C. storm surge
- D. coastal land loss
- E. thunderstorms
- F. snow storms
How confident are you about your answer? (Circle one) Very / Mostly / Somewhat / Not Very / Not at all
Embedded Assessments
Unit 1
1. Define and calculate risk (i.e., probability of hazard times cost)
Unit 2
2. Describe the causes of the natural hazard (e.g., hurricanes form as an atmospheric instability over warm water, in a region with little or no vertical wind shear, in sufficient latitude for the Coriolis force).
Units 2-5
3. List several risks of the natural hazard (e.g., high winds, storm surge, flooding after initial surge, coastal land loss, destruction of infrastructure including roads, power plants, etc. and subsequent risks from those).
Unit 4
4. Explain how precipitation impacts the surface of Earth and can lead to movement and change in the hillslope and river systems.
Units 3-5
5. Analyze maps and images to determine hurricane track, landscape changes, and hazardous areas (e.g., repeat images for changes in the topography and coastlines, topographic maps for areas of flood hazard).
Unit 3
6. Describe the size of a particular event compared to averages and medians (e.g., ACE index of a single hurricane, or an entire season).
Units 3 and 6
7. Make relevant predictions (e.g., effects of the hurricane, past similar events).
Units 2 and 6
8. Calculate when/where to evacuate based on competing and ambiguous data (including calculating timing based on population, roads available, cars/hour).
Unit 6
9. Explain the challenges of making decisions based on probabilities.
Additional assessment files with grading rubrics:
Assessment 1: Homework question (Microsoft Word 811kB Aug26 14).
Assessment 2: Exam question (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 52kB Mar25 13).
Assessment 3: In-class essay (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 39kB Mar25 13).
Assessment 1-3 Grading rubrics. (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 908kB Aug26 14)
