Curriculum Development Instruments

Student Attitude Surveys

Instrument 4: Survey for Unified Introductory Calculus and Physics

Project: Unified Introductory Calculus and Physics
Occidental College

Funding Source: NSF: Course and Curriculum Development (CCD)

Purpose: Assessment of student strengths/interests in math/science

Administered To: Math/Science students

Topics Covered:

• Course Evaluation: content, endorsement, instructor, opportunity to learn
• Impact on Outcomes: student interest, student skills, student understanding
• Plans & Expectations (Student): career interests
• Self-Assessment (Student): application of technology, confidence, content knowledge, skills
• Background Characteristics & Activities (Student): academic interests, career interests, confidence, prior coursework, purpose for participation, student attitudes, student interest, student understanding
• Demographics (Student): ethnicity, gender

Format/Length: 41 questions, 32 closed-ended 5-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree", 2 closed-ended checklist-type, 7 open-ended, and an additional 6 demographic questions

1. What is your student ID number?  _________________________

2. What is your gender?  Female _____  Male____

3. To what racial/ethnic group do you belong?

   ___African American

   ___Asian (please specify)

   	___Japanese
   	___Filipino
   	___Chinese
   	___Korean
   	___Vietnamese
   	___other (please specify)___________________

   ___Hispanic Caucasian

   ___Native American

   ___non-Hispanic Caucasian

   ___other (please specify) ______________________

4. What science/math courses are you taking next year?

   _______________________________________

   _______________________________________

   _______________________________________

   _______________________________________

5. What area of study do you think you will pursue in college? ________________________________

6. What are your career plans as of today? __________________________________________________

How has your interest in science/math been affected by your experience in the CIMAC course?

Would you recommend the CIMAC course to an incoming student?

Is there any feedback you'd like to give about the CIMAC class? Please write below–continue on back if necessary.

Answer the following questions as they relate to your experiences in your science and mathematics courses:

I was expected to solve a wide variety of problems.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to reason logically when solving problems.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to use a range of mathematical methods when solving problems.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to determine relationships when solving problems.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to perform mental calculations and estimates.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to decide when an exact answer was needed and when an estimate would serve the purpose.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to know which mathematical methods were appropriate in particular situations.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to use a calculator appropriately.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to estimate orders of magnitude to confirm mental or calculator results.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to make decisions based upon the collection, representation, and interpretation of real data.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to use tables, graphs, spreadsheets, and statistical techniques to organize, interpret, and present numerical information.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to work cooperatively with other students in a group.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was taught to use computer software for math tasks.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to phrase precisely specific questions from vaguely defined problems.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I was expected to select effective problem-solving strategies.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

My teachers encouraged me to explore.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

My teachers encouraged me to verbalize my math and science ideas.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

My teachers showed me that many math questions have more than one right answer.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

My teachers taught me, through experience, the importance of careful reasoning and disciplined understanding.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

My teachers provided evidence that mathematics is vital and exciting.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

My teachers built confidence in me that I can learn math and science.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I value math and science.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I am confident in my ability to do mathematics.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I am confident in my ability to do science.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I am comfortable working with laboratory equipment.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I am a problem solver.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I can communicate mathematically.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I can reason mathematically.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I can use a calculator confidently and correctly.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I can see myself pursuing a career in math or science.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I can communicate my ideas effectively in writing.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

I found my math and science classes to be exciting and challenging.

1 strongly disagree

2 disagree

3 neutral

4 agree

5 strongly agree

45. What are your career goals?

     

     

     

46. Where do you want to be in 10 years?

     

     

     

47. Why did you take this course?

     

     

     

48. What is one of your most positive experiences in a math or science class?

     

     

     

49. What is one of your most negative experiences in a math or science class?

     

     

     

50. Please tell us anything else that you would like to tell us.