NW-PULSE @ NW BIO 2014

The Biology Department faculty and staff are continuing this work. We will:• Modify the introductory biology curriculum to correspond to our new

textbook, How Life Works, in July 2014• Continue to develop a curriculum map beyond the introductory courses• Continue to modify and implement assessments to evaluate integration

of Vision and Change concepts and skills, starting May 2014• Implement the writing assessment in June 2014

Peer networks such as NW-PULSE and NW-Bio are invaluable for shared resources and support of our work.

• The Biology Department faculty, staff, and students have experience in thoughtful and meaningful curricular design and assessment

• Data from past assessments and curricular reviews are available

• Commitment by faculty, staff, and students to enact meaningful change

• Support from Puget Sound administration

GOAL: To engage faculty, staff, and students to evaluate and enhance integration of the Vision and Change core concepts and skills in the Puget Sound biology curriculum and objectives.

Gregory Johnson, Joel Elliott, Alyce DeMarais

Integration: Vision and Change in the Biology CurriculumUniversity of Puget Sound, Department of Biology

This work was supported in part by NSF EAGER #51588

Biology Department retreat to review Vision and Change concepts and skills related to the departmental

curriculum and outcomes in January 2014

• Updated curriculum map integrating Vision and Change concepts and skills

• Confirmation of Biology Department student learning outcomes

• Report on retreat outcomes to Puget Sound administration

• Proposals for support of continued work• Departmental discussions of new textbook

How Life Works in Spring 2014• Participation in the Pacific Northwest

Learning Conference in November 2013

Resulted in…

ACTION

• Funding for our departmental retreat, curriculum development workshop, and writing assessment workshop (all from grants administered by the University of Puget Sound or from internal sources)

• Curriculum maps and assessments from departmental reviews

• Senior survey assessment instrument• Writing assessment rubric for the Biology

Department• University colleagues with expertise in

writing assessment• NW PULSE colleagues with curriculum

mapping and design expertiseMade possible by…

Next Steps…