Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Karen Bowser
Committee Member
Gail Johnson
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
assessment, assessment centers, communication competencies, communication program, competency based education, competency-based curriculum, competence, core competencies, curriculum integration, curriculum assessment, development methodologies, Eastern University, evaluation, formative committees, implementation, integrative learning objectives, interpersonal competence, learning objectives, literature review, program-wide assessment, research questions, student learning outcomes, summative committees, undergraduate arts and sciences, Vice President of Academics
Abstract
The problem was the curriculum in the Communication Program at Eastern University was not strategically integrated with core communication competencies and no program-wide assessments were available to determine if students in the Communication Program learned established core competencies. The purpose of this applied dissertation was to develop integrative learning objectives for each of the four concentrations and establish a process for evaluation of learning with plans for implementation.
There were four research questions for this project. First, in order to establish an integrated curriculum around the nine core competencies, What courses in each concentration should focus on which competency? Second, What are learning objectives for each course that will help to build toward mastery in each core competency? Third, What is an appropriate assessment strategy for the curriculum centered on the competencies? Finally, How will the assessment strategy be implemented and evaluated?
The development and evaluation methodologies were employed to address the research questions in this dissertation. Procedures included a literature review, the formation of formative and summative committees, the development of the competency-based curriculum with strategies for assessment, implementation, and evaluation, and a report for submission to the Dean of Undergraduate Arts and Sciences and Vice President of Academics at Eastern University.
The results of this project demonstrated that all four research questions were answered. A plan for the integration of courses with competencies was developed. This plan included learning objectives for each course. Additionally, strategies for assessment with plans for implementation were established in order to determine if students actually master the competencies. It was recommended that the plan be implemented and evaluated over the next year.