Pam Ethridge, Coordinator P.E. & Fitness Center

Welcome to A.A.S. Fitness & Exercise,

Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Certificates

A little background• PT certificate

– approved April 2001 – implemented Spring 2002– 35 credits/13 core classes required

• A.A.S.– approved March 2004– Implemented Fall 2004– 65 credits/16 gen ed/19 core classes required

• Group Fitness certificate– approved March 2004– 14 credits/14 core classes

• The entire program is taught by adjunct faculty

IDENTIFICATION OFOUTCOME OBJECTIVE• The ability for the students to successfully retain and

implement the knowledge received over a long period of time.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS?• By the development of several assessment techniques:

– Direct - provides a students knowledge or skill against measurable learning outcome OR

– Indirect - measures the value of learning experience

• Our program uses both direct and indirect measures.

EXIT EXAMDirect measure

Advantages• Content can meet specific

goals, objectives• Rapid feedback-graded

locally• Greater faculty control of

interpretation and results• Easy to administer

Disadvantages• Requires a lot of

coordination, especially during development

• May not provide for externality

• No outside expert assuring the validity and reliability

NOTEBOOKDirect MeasureAdvantages• Can be used to view learning

and development• Economical in terms of

student time and effort• Greater faculty control over

interpretation and use of results

• Avoids “test anxiety” problems• Great for faculty exchange

and development for curriculum goals and objectives

Disadvantages• Evaluator time increased

• Rubric is likely to be challenging

Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF)Indirect Measure

Advantages• Provides immediate feedback• Can include a greater variety of

questions than on a survey• Opportunity to interact with

students• Since a third party is

moderating, students can answer questions openly

• Students know their comments are looked at seriously

Disadvantages• Requires direct contact• May be intimidating to

students• Results tend to be

highly dependent on wording of questions (off topic)

• Can be time consuming• Scheduling of the

trained moderator

INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR SURVEYIndirect Measure

Advantages• Can provide unique

input-how is the program serving their purpose?

• Relations may improve

• Convey a sense of importance regarding their opinions

Disadvantages• Good surveys are

more difficult to construct than they appear

• Confidentiality may be a problem, if mailed

• Return of surveys from supervisors

DATA AND ANALYSISEXIT EXAM• 2005 – 1st year

– No grade issued– Only noted completion– Mean score 50.4

• 2006 – 2nd year– Grade issued for exam– No minimum pass rate– Mean score 61.0

• 2007 – 3rd year– actual score issued for

exam with a pass rate of 70%

– could take a 2nd time – same exam

– Mean score 77.6

• 2008 – 4th year– grade issued as 100 points

for passing– 70 points if taken 2nd time – 0 points if did not have a

pass rate of 70% – (different exam)

– Mean score 71.36

Question content is reviewed yearly by program adjunct faculty, coordinator, and Advisory Committee utilizing an

item analysis report.

Measurable improvement in median scores.

DATA AND ANALYSIS (cont.)EXIT EXAM

DATA AND ANALYSISNotebook

• 2005 – 1st year – comprehensive notebook required

• 2007 – 1st year – notebooks for individual classes made a

requirement along with comprehensive notebook

• Graded by rubric

Rubric Used for Notebook

DATA AND ANALYSISSGIF

Questions and Comments: • What works in the program?

– Hands on practice and internship very beneficial– Start of the art equipment also a real benefit– Order of classes – each building on previous courses

• What does not work in the program?– Nutrition class once a week– Biomechanics class for only eight weeks– Too much down time at intern sites

• What changes would you recommend?– Room designated for practice, etc.– More hands on assignments– Making PSC a national certification test site– Pay interns during internship– More sections offered for each course, not just offered one time

a year– Shadow personal trainers more

• Were you prepared for your internship?– Yes. (academically). No. (financially).

DATA AND ANALYSIS (cont.)SGIF

• Exit Exam Responses:– Time

• Time allotted was OK• Give time for bathroom break

– Content• There should be better alignment between what instructors

teach and what exam tests.• No scratch paper available for computations.

– Preparation• Study guides were vague; not helpful• Give practice test or review session.

DATA AND ANALYSISSGIF

1. How well was the student prepared for the internship?• Solid science foundation• Practical application of fitness theories strong• Good base

2. Did the student have an understanding of fitness components and application skills?

• Picked up quickly• Asked for help when needed• Each day improved his ability to apply what he learned

DATA AND ANALYSISInternship Supervisor Survey

3. If a position becomes available, would you hire the PSC intern?• Yes I will /have hire/ed him/her

4. Did the program coordinator communicate effectively with you i.e. solving problems, responding quickly to questions, etc.?

• Yes, with very detailed requirements.

5. Would you consider hosting an intern in the future?• Would absolutely host another intern• We are reviewing our program internally to provide better

personal training • We’d love to!

DATA AND ANALYSIS (con’t)Internship Supervisor Survey

ACTION TAKEN• Nutrition for Sports & Exercise met Spring 2007

two days a week instead of one day.• Biomechanics was increased from eight weeks

to ten weeks.• Group Fitness Instructor class was expanded to

a 16 week class. • A task list of intern duties and goals has been

included in the internship guidelines booklet.

ACTION TAKEN … (con’t)

• Improved relationship with Intern site supervisors

• Addition of a designated classroom• Continual update and addition of new

equipment.• Up-to-date reference books added to the library

inventory• More hands on work in classes and at internship

New Assessment Project• We will be taking a look at the success of

students who complete English and Communications prior to entering the Fitness & Exercise program.

• Rubrics and course requirements will be attained by corresponding departments and utilized to help measure student progress.

• Goal: To evaluate whether taking English & Communications are vital to a student’s success.

Thank You …Pam Ethridge

Coordinator P.E. & Fitness Center

Chicago Heights, IL

Phone: 708-709-3929

Fax: 708-7755-2587

www.pethridge@prairiestate.edu

PLEASE NOTE…

Some information in this presentation was taken from the workshop “Assessment Fundamentals", presented by Gloria M. Rogers of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology