Knowledge Surveys part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Knowledge Surveys
This module was developed for On the Cutting Edge by Karl Wirth at Macalester College and Dexter Perkins at the University of North Dakota. Knowledge surveys play an essential role in all of my classes. The ...

Place Attachment Inventory (PAI) part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
This is an experimental psychometric instrument that measures an individual's attachment to specific or general places, by means of two dimensions: self-identification with a place, and the capacity of the place to support a person's activities or goals. The 12 items used in the PAI were devised, normed, and validated by Williams and Vaske (2003) and adapted for use in geoscience courses by Semken and Piburn (2004, 2005).

Geological Map Problem part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
This is a lab activity that is designed to help introductory, non-science majors integrate their geological knowledge near the end of the course. In this activity, students work in self-selected groups of up to four per group on the history of a sketch geological map.

Questionnaire to measure indicators for recruitment/retention in geoscience careers part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
This partial survey contains generic items that can be used to evaluate indicators associated with enhanced likelihood of students remaining in the geosciences. This is a DRAFT document and has not yet been piloted or tested.

Minute Paper part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities

Earth, Wind, and Fire Quiz part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
This is an example of one of the formative assessments I used while teaching labs for a geology class for non-science majors. Such quizzes were given at the start of each lab session.

The Maryland Physics Expectations (MPEX) Survey part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
Patricia Laws, Dickenson College What learning is this evaluation activity designed to assess? Students' understanding of what science is about and how it is done as well as their expectations as to what goes ...

Assessment of improving student outcomes in scientific data analysis and synthesis part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
I designed a set of questions, with input from other faculty, to be used in an interview style at the beginning and end an introductory geology course with volunteer participants. I recorded and videotaped my 15 minute interviews, keeping a written record of responses, and hired a research assistant to help evaluate results

Decision Making Using Data part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
Students, within the context of learning about understanding risk, risk assessment , or the predictive value of scientific data, receive relevant decision scenarios, framing outcomes either positively or negatively. Students then make decisions, taking into account the data provided.

Assessing links between climate, active deformation, & geomorphology part of Student Learning: Observing and Assessing:Activities
A two-part pre-curriculum assessment is utilized to evaluate intuitive and learned knowledge of concepts relating to tectonic geomorphology, climate studies, and the formation of active geologic structures. Part 1 asks the student to rank their understanding of various concepts; Part 2 engages the students in a group activity to brainstorm correlations between various tectonic and geomorphic indices.