Transcript Gosink

Program Educational Objectives:
A Contrarian View
Joan Gosink
Colorado School of Mines
June 2009
ASEE MDE 2009
Definitions
Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) are broad
statements that describe the career and professional
accomplishments that the program is preparing
graduates to achieve.
Contrarian…. a person who typically acts or thinks in
a way contrary to popular or accepted opinion…….
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Contrarian approach:
work backwards to define PEOs
What data are easy to collect from alumni and
employers?
And, what PEOs do these data imply?
ASEE MDE 2009
Working backwards
What data are easy to collect from alumni
and employers?
Promotions, advanced degrees, papers, presentations,
design successes, team leaderships……
Community service, EWB, PTA leadership, judging
science fairs, helping with senior design…..
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What PEOs do these data imply?
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Contributions to the profession
Increasing technical expertise
Technical leadership
Design creativity
Intellectual curiosity
……………………………………………
Contributions to the community
Leadership related to service
…………………………………………….
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Problems with PEOs
(contrary to popular or accepted opinion)
Poor response rates from alumni
 Time lag, especially when PEOs are too
specific
 Difficulties in determining improvements
when PEOs are too vague
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Example of a Problematic PEO
 Graduates
will appreciate
lifelong learning
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Example of a Problematic PEO
 Graduates
will appreciate
lifelong learning
Example of a Problematic PEO Assessment
 Survey
…Do you appreciate
lifelong learning?
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Example of a Better PEO
 Graduates
will exhibit intellectual
curiosity through continued
learning opportunities
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Example of Better PEO
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Graduates will exhibit intellectual
curiosity through continued
learning opportunities
Example of Better PEO Assessment
 Data
Collection…..# advanced
degrees, papers, presentations,
training sessions, courses…..
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Finally:
PEOs can serve the program and the
institution
Assert
future directions
Connect with alumni
Recruitment
Industrial relations and fundraising
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Conclusions
Recognize
challenges and difficulties
with PEOs
Recognize potential values of PEOs
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