Office of Institutional Assessment

Student Learning Competencies

Information Technology

Committee Members

Assessment Proposals

Assessment Reports

Standards & Criteria

Background

Currently, George Mason students show evidence of proficiency in information technology through several methods. Teaching modules that will facilitate students' ability to pass the university test are being developed. In order to determine whether students enrolled in IT 103 have mastered basic skills in word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentation, all students enrolled in IT 103 take tests in these four areas. Students are given a grade for their performance on these tests, but in addition, university-wide standards have been established that serve as indicators of success in all four basic IT skills areas.

University standards were set in January, 2002, by four faculty panels comprised of individuals from various departments and schools. Acceptable scores were established for each test and goals were set for the acceptable percentage of students expected to achieve these scores. A new text and test have been introduced into the IT 103 course to better reflect the goals of the competence and to take advantage of more sophisticated testing materials.