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BYU-I SDO & NSSE: To Do

Connections

The tables that follow connect the "To Do" section of BYU-Idaho's Student Development Outcomes (SDO) to various questions from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

Please read through the tables and ask if the connections between the NSSE and the development outcomes seem reasonable and, more importantly, what the tables say about the engagement of our students in the learning process.  What steps toward improvement do the data suggest to you?

When asked how many unassigned books they had read for personal enjoyment or academic enrichment during the current academic year, BYU-Idaho students scored 2.12 (between 1-4 and 5-10 books).  Does that concern you?

When asked about their writing, BYU-Idaho seniors reported that they prepare two or more drafts of papers or assignments somewhere between "sometimes" and "often."  How can we raise the quality of student work by encouraging a response closer to "very often"?

Questions 3c-3e indicate that we aren't asking our students to write long papers.  Should we?  What are the benefits for student learning?  What are the costs?

 

 

 

 

 

BYU-Idaho SDO - Practice reading to extract and make meaning from written language.

NSSE 3a - Number of assigned textbooks, books, or book-length packs of course readings.
During the current school year, about how much reading and writing have you done?  1=None, 2=1-4, 3=5-10, 4=11-20, 5=More than 20
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.00 3.19 2.97 3.26
2011 2.95 3.12 3.12 3.18
Seniors 2006 3.14 3.18 2.94 3.18
2011 3.06 3.14 3.13 3.12

NSSE 3b - Number of books read on your own (not assigned) for personal enjoyment or academic enrichment
During the current school year, about how much reading and writing have you done?  1=None, 2=1-4, 3=5-10, 4=11-20, 5=More than 20
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.20 2.11 2.11 2.06
2011 1.98 2.08 2.07 2.03
Seniors 2006 2.22 2.24 2.23 2.21
2011 2.12 2.17 2.21 2.17

 

BYU-Idaho SDO - Improve your ability to express ideas in appropriate styles of speech and writing.

NSSE 1b - Made a class presentation
In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.36 2.07 2.43 2.23
2011 2.36 2.15 2.41 2.26
Seniors 2006 3.03 2.68 2.84 2.79
2011 2.95 2.66 2.90 2.77

NSSE 1c - Prepared two or more drafts of a paper or assignment before turning it in
In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.68 2.66 2.66 2.65
2011 2.56 2.71 2.80 2.69
Seniors 2006 2.57 2.51 2.63 2.49
2011 2.48 2.52 2.65 2.49

NSSE 3c - Number of written papers or reports of 20 pages or more

During the current school year, about how much reading and writing have you done?  1=None, 2=1-4, 3=5-10, 4=11-20, 5=More than 20
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 1.26 1.24 1.41 1.25
2011 1.25 1.27 1.31 1.27
Seniors 2006 1.56 1.54 1.67 1.64
2011 1.40 1.56 1.65 1.62


NSSE 3d - Number of written papers or reports between 5 and 19 pages
During the current school year, about how much reading and writing have you done?  1=None, 2=1-4, 3=5-10, 4=11-20, 5=More than 20
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.15 2.23 2.24 2.29
2011 1.99 2.16 2.18 2.20
Seniors 2006 2.43 2.50 2.62 2.59
2011 2.23 2.50 2.54 2.54

 

NSSE 3e - Number of papers or reports of fewer than 5 pages
During the current school year, about how much reading and writing have you done?  1=None, 2=1-4, 3=5-10, 4=11-20, 5=More than 20
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.47 3.19 2.64 3.05
2011 3.09 3.01 2.97 2.97
Seniors 2006 3.48 3.36 2.63 2.98
2011 3.39 3.12 2.99 2.99

 

NSSE 11c - Writing clearly and effectively
To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A
2011 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A
Seniors 2006 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A
2011 #N/A #N/A #N/A #N/A

 

NSSE 11d - Speaking clearly and effectively
To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.98 2.68 2.70 2.75
2011 3.04 2.78 2.98 2.87
Seniors 2006 3.13 2.93 2.86 2.96
2011 3.09 2.90 3.12 3.01

 

BYU-Idaho SDO - Sharpen your ability to use quantitative skills to analyze arguments and make decisions

NSSE 11f - Analyzing quantitative problems
To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.02 2.83 3.09 2.85
2011 3.15 2.95 3.00 3.00
Seniors 2006 3.12 3.04 3.27 3.02
2011 3.21 3.10 3.13 3.11

 

NSSE 11m - Solving complex real-world problems
To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.94 2.55 2.73 2.57
2011 3.07 2.66 2.75 2.73
Seniors 2006 2.99 2.81 2.86 2.71
2011 3.07 2.80 2.85 2.84

 

BYU-Idaho SDO - Train yourself to act in ways that contribute to team success

NSSE 1g - Worked with other students on projects during class
In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.36 2.36 2.21 2.40
2011 2.58 2.41 2.52 2.44
Seniors 2006 2.61 2.39 2.29 2.51
2011 2.87 2.53 2.62 2.56

 

NSSE 1h - Worked with classmates outside of class to prepare class assignments

In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.58 2.33 2.28 2.36
2011 2.92 2.33 2.47 2.45
Seniors 2006 3.00 2.83 2.60 2.75
2011 3.13 2.74 2.75 2.79

 

NSSE 11h - Working effectively with others
To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.33 2.90 2.98 2.92
2011 3.43 2.92 3.07 3.02
Seniors 2006 3.48 3.18 3.12 3.14
2011 3.52 3.09 3.24 3.18

 

BYU-Idaho SDO - Learn to create, locate, and evaluate information.

NSSE 1l - Used an electronic medium (listserv, chat group, Internet, instant messaging, etc.) to discuss or complete an assignment

In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.53 2.57 2.84 2.64
2011 2.84 2.64 2.61 2.67
Seniors 2006 2.79 2.86 2.93 2.85
2011 2.93 2.91 2.92 2.90

 

NSSE 1m - Used e-mail to communicate with an instructor
In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.05 2.87 3.09 3.01
2011 3.27 3.07 3.24 3.21
Seniors 2006 3.32 3.22 3.31 3.31
2011 3.38 3.36 3.49 3.46

 

NSSE 10g - Using computers in academic work
To what extent does your institution emphasize _______?  1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.51 3.33 3.46 3.32
2011 3.56 3.30 3.32 3.33
Seniors 2006 3.64 3.57 3.53 3.47
2011 3.62 3.49 3.44 3.45

 

NSSE 11g - Using computing and information technology

To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.15 2.93 3.29 2.99
2011 3.17 2.94 3.06 3.05
Seniors 2006 3.34 3.26 3.43 3.20
2011 3.28 3.19 3.22 3.20

 

BYU-Idaho SDO - Think critically, make wise decisions, and solve problems creatively.

NSSE 1e - Included diverse perspectives (different races, religions, genders, political beliefs, etc.) in class discussions or writing assignments

In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.73 2.67 2.60 2.76
2011 2.81 2.78 2.80 2.79
Seniors 2006 2.71 2.68 2.48 2.78
2011 2.69 2.75 2.93 2.84

 

NSSE 1i - Put together ideas or concepts from different courses when completing assignments or during class discussions

In your experience at your institution during the current school year, about how often have you _____?  1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.66 2.52 2.59 2.57
2011 2.82 2.61 2.63 2.65
Seniors 2006 3.00 2.94 2.88 2.91
2011 3.00 2.94 2.95 2.97

 

NSSE 2b - Analyzing the basic elements of an idea, experience, or theory, such as examining a particular case or situation in depth and considering its components

During the current school year, how much has your coursework emphasized ________?  1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.02 3.05 3.10 3.06
2011 3.23 3.16 3.11 3.17
Seniors 2006 3.18 3.19 3.16 3.22
2011 3.36 3.30 3.29 3.31

 

NSSE 2c - Synthesizing and organizing ideas, information, or experiences into new, more complex interpretations and relationships

During the current school year, how much has your coursework emphasized ________?  1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.78 2.74 2.84 2.83
2011 2.95 2.92 2.90 2.95
Seniors 2006 2.97 3.00 2.93 3.01
2011 3.11 3.07 3.11 3.11

 

NSSE 2d - Making judgments about the value of info., arguments, or methods, such as examining how others gathered and interpreted data and assessing the soundness of their conclusions

During the current school year, how much has your coursework emphasized ________?  1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.75 2.72 2.85 2.82
2011 3.04 2.91 2.95 2.95
Seniors 2006 2.95 2.90 2.91 2.94
2011 3.07 2.98 3.09 3.05

 

NSSE 6d - Examined the strengths and weaknesses of your own views on a topic or issue

During the current school year, about how often have you done each of the following? 
1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.97 2.77 2.54 2.57
2011 2.99 2.67 2.64 2.62
Seniors 2006 2.92 2.84 2.64 2.69
2011 2.95 2.79 2.76 2.72

 

NSSE 6e - Tried to better understand someone else's views by imagining how an issue looks from his or her perspective

During the current school year, about how often have you done each of the following? 
1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.94 2.81 2.67 2.74
2011 3.03 2.80 2.81 2.81
Seniors 2006 2.94 2.92 2.75 2.83
2011 2.98 2.92 2.90 2.88

 

NSSE 6f - Learned something that changed the way you understand an issue or concept

During the current school year, about how often have you done each of the following? 
1=Never, 2=Sometimes, 3=Often, 4=Very often
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.17 2.95 2.76 2.80
2011 3.23 2.91 2.90 2.89
Seniors 2006 3.15 3.04 2.79 2.87
2011 3.19 2.99 2.94 2.93

 

NSSE 11e - Thinking critically and analytically

To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 3.27 3.16 3.27 3.16
2011 3.40 3.21 3.24 3.25
Seniors 2006 3.43 3.38 3.39 3.33
2011 3.48 3.35 3.40 3.37

 

NSSE 11m - Solving complex real-world problems

To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in ______?   1=Very little, 2=Some, 3=Quite a bit, 4=Very much
Year BYU-Idaho Peers Carnegie Peers All NSSE
First Year 2006 2.94 2.55 2.73 2.57
2011 3.07 2.66 2.75 2.73
Seniors 2006 2.99 2.81 2.86 2.71
2011 3.07 2.80 2.85 2.84