Assessment

The Racial Issues Colloquium encourages assessment of its curriculum as a means to continually refine both content and pedagogy. As such, the Colloquium designed a pre- and post-survey that provides individual faculty, and university departments, feedback on the effectiveness of the Racial Issues criteria. The survey attempts to measure student learning outcomes related to key core concepts of the requirement. This instrument was created by a group of core faculty who meet each summer for the Racial Issues Colloquium Summer Seminar. All faculty teaching Racial Issues courses are free to use this instrument in addition to the faculty member’s own assessment instrument. Contact the coordinator of the Colloquium for more information on this instrument.

Learning Outcomes:

(developed by RIC Summer Seminar, 2005)

Skills outcomes:

Students in racial issues courses will demonstrate critical analysis and research skills.

1) Written performance will be enhanced by producing reports, research papers, and essays which reflect their understanding of race and race relations in the United States.

2) Oral discourse will be enhanced by participating in classroom discussions and dialogues on topics such as racism, racial oppression and white privilege thereby increasing their ability to defend, describe and explain knowledge of material gained.

3) Improved access to resources will be enhanced by utilizing a variety of resources (Internet, databases, print, electronic) to increase their knowledge about race relations.

4) Application of critical concepts to life situations will be enhanced by analyzing current events, data, reports through discussions and written assignments.

5) Collaboration with colleagues will be enhanced by working on team projects or exercises wherein cooperative learning is the desired outcome.

Knowledge outcomes:

Students in racial issues courses will demonstrate knowledge of key concepts such as:

1) students will be able to explain the difference between race and ethnicity.

2) students will provide examples of privileges and benefits based on racial identity.

3) students will distinguish the difference between racial prejudice and racism.

4) students will be able to explain the concept of race.

5) students will identify forms of institutional discrimination in education, housing, politics, economics and the legal system.

6) students will understand and describe historical patterns and forms of racial oppression as experienced by African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians and Latino/as.

7) students will critique societal attempts at assimilation and exclusion of under represented groups of color in the U.S.