Queensborough Community College
DEPARTMENT:
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Physics
June 2013
YEAR: 2012-2013
A. DEPARTMENT SERVICES/ACTIVITIES REPORT IN 2012-13
1.
Department-sponsored services (fall and spring semesters combined)
Area of Service
Departmental research laboratories S-324, S-309 (partial), S-333 (part-time, also computer lab)
Number Served
12
Area of service (for example): a department-run learning laboratory (not laboratories for which students register as part of their courses), the reference desk or reserve area of the
Library, department tutoring program, etc. (Note: Do not report courses or laboratories for which students register.)
2.
Department-sponsored faculty/staff development activities
Type of Activity and Topic
Presentation – invited speaker (Shlomo Engelberg) by department – topic - signal analysis
Date
July
Number Attending
10
Note: Faculty and staff development activities (grants, presentations, exhibitions, performances, publications, instructional improvement activities, laboratory development,
curriculum development, etc.)
INSTRUCTIONS:
For each activity, please indicate
1. whether department members organized the activities or gave presentations or both
2. the topic and type of activity and name of organizer/presenter, if applicable
3. the date (if not the exact date, indicate the month)
4. the number attending the event
B. COURSE CHANGES IN 2012-13
INSTRUCTIONS: For each course that changed, indicate:
1.
2.
3.
4.
whether the course is new, revised, or deleted
the course number
the course title
the semester the change was approved at the Academic Senate
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
June 2013
5. for revised courses, in the Comments section, describe the type of change(s)—i.e., course title, description, pre/corequisites, credits, hours, designation
New, revised, or
deleted
New
Course
number
PH111
Course title
Semester approved
Comments
Space, Astronomy and our
Universe
Space, Astronomy and our
Universe Laboratory
Introduction to Meteorology
Fall 2012
Pathways 1C
New
PH112
Spring 2013
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Pathway 2E
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Fall 2012
Pathway 2E
Pathway 2E
Pathway 2E
PH201
Natural Hazards
Global Warming
Energy and Environment
Cause and Effect Analysis
Scientific Measurement in
Medicine and Health
Science of Dance, Music and
Aesthetics
How Things Work
Natural Science in Finance
Scientific Explorations of Science
Fiction
General Physics 1
Lab to meet graduation
requirement AA/AS
Pathway 2E – changed
outcomes
Pathway 2E
Pathway 2E
Pathway 2E
Pathway 2E
Pathway 2E
Revised
PH 120
New
New
New
New
New
PH 123
PH 124
PH 125
PH 126
PH 127
New
PH 128
New
New
New
PH 129
PH132
PH133
Revised
Fall 2012
Revised
PH202
General Physics 2
Fall 2012
Revised
PH240
Computerized Physical
Measurements using Graphical
Programming
Fall 2012
Added recitation hour in
order to correspond with
NYCT
Added recitation hour in
order to correspond with
NYCT
Changed prerequisites in
order to have the course
meet PE1 degree
requirement
Fall 2012
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
new
PH311
College Physics 1C
Spring 2013
new
PH312
College Physics 2C
Spring 2013
June 2013
Version of 301 for more
transfer
Version of 302 for more
transfer
C. PROGRAM CHANGES IN 2012-13
Program
Program change*
Liberal Arts and Sciences
(Mathematics and Science)
(LS1)
A.S Engineering Science
(PE1)
Comments
d
Effective Date (Semester
and year)
Fall 2013
d
Fall 2013
Match better with CCNY
pathways
*Key: (a)=initiated, (b)=closed, (c)=renamed, (d)=modified
INSTRUCTIONS:



Use the full title of the program, i.e. A.A. in Visual and Performing Arts.
Indicate whether the program change is initiated, closed, renamed, or modified. (If a new program has been approved by
the CUNY Board (or is expected to be approved by June 2013), use fall 2013 as the effective date.)
Describe the exact status (i.e., proposal submitted to CUNY Board; approved by CUNY Board; etc.) in the Comments.
D. DEPARTMENT CHANGES IN 2012-13
Type (see menu below)
Personnel Change
Description of
Change
Hired new faculty
member – Assistant
Professor – Dr.
Damas
Reason for Change
Meet need to have
more classes
covered by full-time
faculty
Date/Semester
Fall 2012
Evaluation of Change*
Has helped reduce the
need for additional
adjuncts.
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Queensborough Community College
Personnel Change
Equipment
Facilities
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
June 2013
Dr. Flamholz went
on travia leave and
replaced by a
substitute – search
initiated to replace
him
Assorted equipment
for physics 1 and 2
labs
Retirement of
faculty member
Sub spring 2013,
Dr. Flamholz retire
effective Fall 2013
NA
Upgrade lab
equipment
Fall 2012 and spring
2013
Moved research
equipment out of S324 and into S-309
S-324 needed by
Spring 2013
college for other use
Some labs improved by
use of new apparatus such
as the electric field
mapping lab exercise
Addition storage space
was arranged for so that
all of the research set-ups
could fit in S-309
*Please note that, if change has been too recent to evaluate, you may indicate NA.
MENU
Type of change
Personnel or organizational change
Facilities/space
Equipment
Other
Description
New hires, retirees, resignations, promotions, department name changes, etc.
Renovations or development of office space or new facilities (i.e., computer laboratories)
Acquisition of new or disposition of old equipment
Other changes affecting the department not included above and including interactions with other departments
E. DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT IN 2012-13
1.
Departmental procedures for conducting assessment
The fundamental elements of standard 14 (assessment of student learning) of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
include: clearly articulated statements of expected student learning outcomes…at all levels (institution, degree/program, course)
and for all programs that aim to foster student learning and development; a documented, organized, and sustained assessment
process to evaluate and improve student learning; evidence that student learning assessment information is shared and discussed
with appropriate constituents and is used to improve teaching and learning.
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
June 2013
Describe below the department’s ongoing procedures for assessing student learning and using assessment results to
improve teaching and learning. In your description, please explain how the department fulfills each of the Middle
States fundamental elements above.
The department sets specific learning outcomes and general education outcomes for each course. Each instructor
assesses his/her sections ever semester completing an assessment grid. This grid includes specific course outcomes
and gen ed outcomes and connects them with specific tasks. The results from a full year are collected for each course
and analyzed to determine how well outcomes were met and whether or not any action needs to be taken.
2a.
Departmental participation in self-study/program review during 2012-2013, if applicable
Program(s) reviewed: (GIVE FULL TITLE, i.e., A.A.S. in Digital Art and Design)
External Agency or Reviewers: (GIVE NAME OF AGENCY OR NAME OF REVIEWER[S])
Date of site visit
Major conclusions of self-study
Major conclusions of external reviewers
Resulting action plan
2b.
Program review follow-up
Action item from program review
3.
Timeline for completion
Accomplishments during current year
Course assessment
Courses assessed
(list individually)
Relevant QCC
Educational Objectives
Relevant Curricular
Objectives (cite both
curriculum and objectives)
Evaluation of Assessment
Results
Action plan
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Queensborough Community College
Every course was
assessed but to
date only two of
the reports were
forwarded
PH301
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Gen. Ed. Obj. # 3: Write,
read, listen and speak
clearly and effectively.
Gen. Ed. Obj. #4. Use
analytical reasoning skills
and apply logic to solve
problems.
Gen. Ed. Obj. #5: Use
quantitative skills and
mathematical reasoning to
solve problems.
Gen Ed. Obj. #7: Integrate
knowledge and skills in
major field and across
disciplines.
Gen Ed. Obj. #9: Use
personal and collaborative
skills for personal growth
and to establish
constructive relationships
in a diverse society
Gen. Ed. Obj. #12.
Identify concepts and
methods of the
mathematical, physical and
biological sciences and
make judgments about
contemporary issues in
science and technology.
June 2013
Summary: Course objectives
and 6 of the Gen. Ed.
Objectives were assessed
using various tasks. Some
objectives were assessed using
multiple tasks. Each objective
were assessed at least twice.
Outcomes indicate 70% or
more achieved good or
excellent. This level of
student performance is
acceptable.
Recommendations: Each
task measures several
objectives and at the same
time certain objectives can
be assessed in different
tasks. It is useful to
measure the performance
of students in each
objective within a specific
task.
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Queensborough Community College
PH302
4.
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
Gen. Ed. Obj. # 3: Write,
read, listen and speak
clearly and effectively.
Gen. Ed. Obj. #4. Use
analytical reasoning skills
and apply logic to solve
problems.
Gen. Ed. Obj. #5: Use
quantitative skills and
mathematical reasoning to
solve problems.
Gen Ed. Obj. #7: Integrate
knowledge and skills in
major field and across
disciplines.
Gen Ed. Obj. #9: Use
personal and collaborative
skills for personal growth
and to establish
constructive relationships
in a diverse society
June 2013
Summary: Course objectives
and 4 of the Gen. Ed.
Objectives were assessed
using various tasks. Some
objectives were assessed using
multiple tasks. Each objective
were assessed at least twice.
Outcomes indicate 70% or
more achieved good or
excellent. This level of
student performance is
acceptable for a challenging
course like 302.
Recommendations: Each
task measures several
objectives and at the same
time certain objectives can
be assessed in different
tasks. It is useful to
measure the performance
of students in each
objective within a specific
task.
Results of certification exams, employer and alumni surveys, student surveys, advisory board recommendations
(if applicable, please use the table below)
Data Source
Results
Action plan
Certification exams
Employer/alumni surveys, including
graduation and placement survey
Student surveys (current students)
Advisory Board recommendations
5.
Other assessment activity
F. DEPARTMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1.
Goals/objectives for 2012-2013
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Queensborough Community College
Year-end Report – Teaching Department
June 2013
(Please indicate [Yes or No] if the objectives were part of the College’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2012.)
Departmental goals/objectives 2011/2012
Strategic
Plan Y/N
Increase student participation in research
Revise courses and generate new courses to
meet the pathways 1C and 2E
2.
Evaluation of achievement
Resulting action plan
Limited success Not more successful
due to loss of funding for a critical
piece of equipment in the previous
year.
All courses passes by academic
senate 1 1C course is left to go
forward to the appropriate review
committee. All the 2E courses went
forward 6 require more details for
the review committee
Continue to push for the
replacement of the funds
that were withdrawn
The 6 2E submissions
will be revised
Goals/objectives for 2013-2014
(Explain how these goals/objectives align with the College’s goals and Strategic Plan for 2013-2014)
Departmental goals/objectives 2012-2013
Mission/Strategic Plan
High impact activity
Increase student participation in research
Revamp the physics concentration under LS1 and work
on a transfer agreement or joint program with Hunter to
replace the agreement for LFOET students
Purchase a Ti:sapphire amplifier system for research
Help retain students
until degree completion
Planned method of evaluation
Count the number of students
participating and how much time they
spend
The signing of a specific agreement
Involve more students in Actual purchase and installation.
research – see first goal Begin using it for research projects.
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