WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
CIIA > SHOWCASE INDEX > SHOWCASE 2004
Center for Instructional
Innovation and Assessment

INNOVATIVE TEACHING SHOWCASE

2004
2005
Brian Burton
Janice Lapsansky
Jeff Newcomer
Goals Contents
GOALS
burton
Brian Burton
Management Department

Institutional Goals

Listed below are selected learning outcomes in the area of critical thinking that Western Washington University is actively integrating into its curriculum. Each learning outcome is listed with its definition, along with a description of how Brian Burton's teaching strategies meet each of these student learning outcome goals.

Critical Thinking


Learning Outcomes Definition Course Outcomes
Identification Accurately identifies and interprets evidence. Students must identify important moral issues and affected stakeholders.
Alternative Consideration Considers major alternative points of view. Students must identify alternative courses of action.
Accurate Conclusions Draws warranted, judicious, non-fallacious conclusions. Students must show proper use of moral reasoning underlying decisions.
Justification Justifies key results and procedures, and explains assumptions and reasons. Students must explain why the selected alternative fits their moral perspective.

Source: Adapted from the California Academic Press's Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric (HCTSR).

Writing


Learning Outcomes Definition Course Outcomes
Rhetorical Knowledge Focuses on a clear rhetorical purpose and responds appropriately to the needs of varied audiences and situations. Students must identify important moral issues and affected stakeholders.
Alternative Consideration Considers major alternative points of view. Students must clearly articulate goals for the paper.
Critical Analysis Develops, examines, situates, and communicates a reasoned perspective clearly to others. Students must make their arguments clearly and concisely.
Composing Processes Understands writing as a recursive process that involves drafting, re-thinking, editing, reconceptualizing. Students have the opportunity to submit early drafts for comment.
Convention Knowledge Uses appropriate conventions for documentation and for surface features such as syntax, grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling. Students must write well in conventional English.

Source:
Adapted from Western Washington University's Learning Outcomes for Writing II.