CEN ABET Mini- Retreat March 4, 20101 CEN ABET Mini-Retreat Agenda: –State of the Assessments –Discussion on loop closings. –CSE Program Objectives/Outcomes

CEN ABET Mini-Retreat

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• Agenda:– State of the Assessments– Discussion on loop closings.– CSE Program Objectives/Outcomes.

Current Assessments

• On CISE Department Page


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http://www.cise.ufl.edu/


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ABET Definitions

• Outcomes: what students can do when they graduate. Most successful measures: assessment of course work, and senior surveys.– Department assesses oucomes.

• Objectives: what graduates can do after several years. Most successful measures: IAB input (revise objectives) and alumni surveys (measure achievement of objectives). – COE carries out surveys.


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CEN Program Objectives

A graduate of the University of Florida Computer Engineering Program should have a successful career in computer engineering or a related field, and within three to five years, should:

1. Excel in a career utilizing their education in Computer Engineering;

2. Continue to enhance their knowledge; 3. Be effective in multidisciplinary and diverse

professional environments;4. Provide leadership and demonstrate good citizenship.


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Outcomes: a CEN graduate should have ...

(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, computer science, and electrical engineering as it applies to computer hardware and software;

(b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to organize, analyze and interpret data;

(c) an ability to design hardware and software systems, components, or processes to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;

(d) an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;


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Outcomes (cont'd). A CEN graduate should have …

(e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve hardware and software computer engineering problems, accounting for the interaction between hardware and software;

(f) an understanding of professional, legal, and ethical issues and responsibilities;

(g) an ability to communicate effectively in speech and in writing, including documentation of hardware and software systems;

(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;


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(i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;

(j) a knowledge of contemporary issues;(k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern

engineering tools necessary for computer engineering practice; and

(l) an ability to apply engineering and management knowledge and techniques to estimate time and resources needed to complete a computer engineering project.

Outcomes (cont’d) A CEN graduate should have …


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CEN Outcome Evaluation Process

Three-tiered process:

• Outcome instruments assessed in each course.

• Course committee (3 faculty) reviews instruments per course for all relevant outcomes.

• Outcomes reviewed over all courses by oversight committee (CENPOC). Recommendations collected and referred to appropriate bodies.


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Course/Outcome Mapping


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POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

• Considering two-semester Senior Design course.

• Create new, joint CEN-4914 course. Separate sections for ECE (hardware track) and CISE (software) students.

• COT-3100 Discrete Structures: make CIS-3020 (Introduction to CIS) or CIS-3023 (Progr. For CIS majors II) a pre-requisite. Currently a co-requisite.

• COP-4600 Operating Systems: add C programming course as a pre-requisite.


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POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS(cont’d)

• CDA-3101 Computer Organization: add Discrete Structures or Digital Logic as a pre-requisite.

• CNT-4007C Computer Networking: cover Java threading and synchronization in Operating Systems (a pre-req).

• Add one more lab hour to CIS-3020 (Intro. to CIS)


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POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS(cont'd)

• Except for Operating systems, C/C++ not emphasized in the program (vs. Java). Anecdotal evidence suggests this may be a limitation for our graduates. Switch COP-3530 Data Structures to C/C++ ?

• Mandatory group work in Senior Design ?


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UPDATE

• Assessments STILL NOT driving the process.• Suggested changes collected during the

assessments process, but not driven by it.• Assessments are “just fine”• Trying to change this.

• Need to close loops:– Document some limitation using assessments.– Perform program or course change.– Document improvement using assessments.


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Current Course of Action• Use recommendations from course evaluation

reports to identify opportunities for improvement. – Example: knowledge of programming necessary for

COT-3100 Discrete Structures• Design assessments that will assess the issue.

Find out if there's a limitation (< 70% achieving outcome)

• Implement course/program reform.• Assess again, show (> 70%) there's an

improvement, i.e. close the loop.


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What we Need

• At least one course improvement for each (most ?) outcome, with fully closed loop.

• A multiplicity of program improvements (with fully closed loop).

UPDATE (cont’d)

• Course Committees revised to encourage cross-course discussion of issues and their assessments.

• Assessments for Spring, Summer 2009 are being collected this way.

• Expect (hope) to have some genuine loop closings within two semesters.


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Accreditation of CSE Program

• Proposed Objectives/Outcomes for CSE Program


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Documents

CEN ABET Mini- Retreat March 4, 20101 CEN ABET Mini-Retreat Agenda: –State of the Assessments –Discussion on loop closings. –CSE Program Objectives/Outcomes