Southwest Texas Junior CollegeCore Curriculum
Dr. Cheryl Sanchez, Dr. Mark Underwood, Dr. Renee Zimmerman, and Bobby AyalaSouthwest Texas Junior CollegeSpring 2015 Convocation
Presentation Objectives
•Provide a history of the Core and Core revision process
•Discuss new Core Objectives•Identify some unresolved issues
Background
•Texas Core Curriculum - Each institution of higher education that offers an undergraduate academic degree program shall develop its core curriculum by using the Board-approved purpose, core objectives, and foundational component areas of the Texas Core Curriculum.
Old Core
•Established in 1997▫42-46 SCH▫37 EEOs
•Why change the core?▫THECB wants the core to help students
build real world skills and capabilities
Philosophical ShiftOld Core
• Accumulate credits• Across a wide
academic background
• EEOs were unique to a discipline
New Core• Master six key skills• In a variety of
academic disciplines
• Core objectives are shared across the institution
Purposes of the Core
•Students will gain▫Knowledge of human cultures and physical
and natural world▫Principles of personal and social
responsibility▫Intellectual and practical skills
Workforce Report
•Interviewed▫400+ employers▫Expectations and experiences with
High School Graduates Jr College Graduates University Graduates
Workforce Report Skills• Basic Knowledge
▫ English▫ Reading/writing▫ Math▫ Science▫ Art▫ Social Studies
• Applied Skills▫ Critical Thinking▫ Communication▫ Quantitative
Reasoning▫ Teamwork▫ Personal and
Social Responsibility
Foundational Component Area
Core Objectives
Communication
Mathematics
Life and Physical Sciences
Language, Philosophy, & Culture
Creative Arts
American History
Government/Political Science
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Institutional Option
Critical Thinking
Communication
Empirical and Quantitative Skills
Teamwork
Personal Responsibility
Social Responsibility
Critical Thinking
•Includes▫Creative thinking and innovation▫Inquiry▫Analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of
information•Addressed in ALL core courses
Communication
•Effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas
•Includes▫Written communication▫Oral communication▫Visual communication
•Addressed in ALL core courses
Empirical and Quantitative
•Includes▫Manipulation and analysis of numerical
data or observable facts▫Create informed conclusions
•Addressed in Math, Science, and Social sciences
Teamwork
•Includes▫Ability to consider different points of view▫Ability to work with others towards a
shared goal•Addressed in Communication, Sciences,
and Fine Arts
Personal Responsibility
•Ability to connect personal choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision making
•Addressed in Communication, Language/Philosophy/Culture, History, Government
Social Responsibility
•Includes ▫Intercultural competence▫Civic responsibility▫Ability to engage in regional, national, and
global communities•Addressed in
Language/Philosophy/Culture, Fine Arts, History, Government, Social Sciences
SWTJC Core Curriculum
•Committee began meeting Spring 2012▫Matrices established
•Began Implementing Courses Fall 2012▫Guidelines also established for
implementation•New core will be implemented Fall 2014
Component II
•The assessment of the Core Curriculum is an evaluation of attainment of the Core Objectives. ▫A. Describe the institution’s process to
determine the appropriate level of attainment of each Core Objective.
▫B. Describe the institution’s plan for assessment of each Core Objective. Include the following components of the institution’s assessment plan:
▫Assessment methods explain the methodology (institutional portfolios,
embedded assessment, etc.), describe the measures (must include at least one direct measure), outline the frequency and timeline of assessment;
▫Criteria/Targets explain the criteria and targets for the level of
attainment of each Core Objective, include references to externally informed benchmarks;
▫Analysis explain how the results of the assessment will be
evaluated; and▫Actions and Follow-up
explain the process for improving student learning based on the assessment results.
22
Momentum Points Based on FY 2010 Data
Math Read/Write
1st
Math15
Credits30
CreditsTransf Assoc. Core Cert. Total
Points
Points 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2
SWTJC 336 316 794 1,954 1,110 404 414 114 212 6,798
State 31,062
32,084
89,244 240,167
143,082 41,079 46,234 13,932
20,200
778,791
Unresolved DifficultiesArtifact Submission•Common Naming system
Links• THECB submission Process:
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2808.PDF?CFID=33626535&CFTOKEN=92198239
• Quick Reference: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/2737.PDF?CFID=33626535&CFTOKEN=92198239
• Core curriculum assessment guidelines: http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=24D2FE55-C9B7-419A-4D65413B13CD44ED
▫ (resources for assessments can also be found at the above site; Liberal Education and America's Promise (LEAP) and Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (VALUE) )