assessment of spreadsheet and database skills in the undergraduate student

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Assessment of Assessment of Spreadsheet and Spreadsheet and

Database Skills in the Database Skills in the Undergraduate StudentUndergraduate Student

Jeanne BaughJeanne BaughDepartment of Department of

Computer and Information SystemsComputer and Information SystemsRobert Morris UniversityRobert Morris University

Pittsburgh PAPittsburgh PA

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Computer LiteracyComputer Literacy

““A computer literate A computer literate student should not student should not only know how to use only know how to use computer application computer application software, but should software, but should also understand how also understand how computers work and computers work and how to manipulate how to manipulate them”them”

(Goldweber 1994) (Goldweber 1994)

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What do Students Know?What do Students Know?

Surf the net Surf the net Download music Download music Use email Use email Use word processing Use word processing Play games Play games

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Information Systems Information Systems University Core CoursesUniversity Core Courses

CI212 – Principles of Information CI212 – Principles of Information and Computing and Computing

CI310 – CI310 – Information Systems Information Systems Applications Applications

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Information Systems CourseInformation Systems Course(CI212)(CI212)

WordWordExcelExcelAccessAccessBasic Computer SkillsBasic Computer Skills

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Information Systems CourseInformation Systems Course(CI310)(CI310)

Overview of technological conceptsOverview of technological concepts Application software to enhance Application software to enhance

decision-making decision-making Computer hardware and software Computer hardware and software Telecommunications and networksTelecommunications and networks Internet and intranetsInternet and intranets Data management Data management Decision support systems Decision support systems

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Components from IS2002 Components from IS2002 Model Model Curriculum in CI310 CourseCurriculum in CI310 Course

IS 2002.P0 – Personal Productivity IS 2002.P0 – Personal Productivity with IS Technologywith IS Technology

IS 2002.1 – Fundamentals of IS 2002.1 – Fundamentals of Information SystemsInformation Systems

IS 2002.3 – Information Systems IS 2002.3 – Information Systems Theory and Practice Theory and Practice

IS 2002.4 – Information Technology IS 2002.4 – Information Technology Hardware and System Software Hardware and System Software

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Various Voices HeardVarious Voices Heard Administration wants core IS courses reducedAdministration wants core IS courses reduced Students say they already know topics (spreadsheet Students say they already know topics (spreadsheet

and database)and database) Students say IS concepts not meaningful to themStudents say IS concepts not meaningful to them Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of IS concepts in Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of IS concepts in

course”course” Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of Software component Some CIS faculty say “Get rid of Software component

in course”in course” Some professors (other departments) say students Some professors (other departments) say students

don’t need IS conceptsdon’t need IS concepts Other Departments expect their students to know Other Departments expect their students to know

Excel and Access Excel and Access

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What to do?What to do?

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Do students Do students know as know as much as much as they think they think they do?they do?

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Assessment TestAssessment Test

Excel SpreadsheetExcel Spreadsheet• Enter data in cellsEnter data in cells• Write Simple formulasWrite Simple formulas• Insert Rows/ColumnsInsert Rows/Columns• Format dataFormat data

Access DatabaseAccess Database• Add fieldsAdd fields• Input dataInput data• Create queryCreate query• Create form (using wizard)Create form (using wizard)• Create report (using wizard)Create report (using wizard)

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Exam DetailsExam Details

Was to be done during first week of courseWas to be done during first week of course Was to be completed during class timeWas to be completed during class time Was to be administered to all 350 students Was to be administered to all 350 students

enrolled in CI310enrolled in CI310 Spreadsheet and Database were to be Spreadsheet and Database were to be

emailed as attachments for evaluationemailed as attachments for evaluation

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Grading RubricGrading Rubric

Excel SatisfactoryExcel Satisfactory– No major mistakes with anythingNo major mistakes with anything

Access SatisfactoryAccess Satisfactory– No major mistakes with adding fields, input data No major mistakes with adding fields, input data

and queryand query– Could have mistakes with either form or report Could have mistakes with either form or report

creation, but not bothcreation, but not both

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7%

11% 11%

44%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Enter data

Write formula

Insert row

Format data

Percentage of Students NOT Accomplishing Tasks

Excel Exam Detail

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37%45%

61% 63% 61%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Add fields

Input data

Createquery

Createform

Createreport

Percentage of Students NOT Accomplishing Tasks

Access Exam Detail

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56%44%

32%

68%

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Excel Access

CI310 Assessment Exam - Student Results

Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

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Curriculum ChangesCurriculum Changes

Take CI212 out of core (CI310 only IS course in Take CI212 out of core (CI310 only IS course in core)core)

Do not take software out of CI310 (students would Do not take software out of CI310 (students would not get Excel and Access otherwise)not get Excel and Access otherwise)

Excel and Access strengthened in CI310Excel and Access strengthened in CI310 Create two new versions of CI310 (one for Nursing Create two new versions of CI310 (one for Nursing

and one for Business)and one for Business) Limited discussion of IS concepts in CI310 (CIS Limited discussion of IS concepts in CI310 (CIS

majors will pick up some skipped topics in other IS majors will pick up some skipped topics in other IS courses)courses)

assessment of spreadsheet and database skills in the undergraduate student

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