Faculty-led Inquiry into Reflective and Scholarly Teaching (FIRST)
Date of this Version
2020
Document Type
Portfolio
Citation
Kreitmair, Ursula W. "POLS 332: Climate Change: Policy and Politics" (2020). UNL Faculty Portfolios, 169. digitalcommons.unl.edu/prtunl/169.
Abstract
This benchmark portfolio i) provides and overview learning objectives of and pedagogical techniques used in POLS 332 Climate Change: Policy and Politics; and ii) assesses student learning in the course. The course is an upper-level undergraduate course designed to provide students with the ability to follow and actively participate in current climate change policy debates. The course seeks to leave students well versed in both domestic and international policy settings, to provide them with the ability to identify critical assumptions that can alter policy outcomes, and to bestow students with significant understanding of current climate policy. The course is inter-disciplinary in nature (political science, economics, climatology) and attracts students of various majors. The portfolio relies on student evaluations and summative assessments to evaluate general student learning. In addition, the portfolio will provide more in-depth assessment of teaching effectiveness with respect to a single course learning objective based on pre-test surveys and qualitative assessment of essay responses. Overall, students perform well relative learning objectives and consider group discussions and activities particularly beneficial to their learning. Finally, the portfolio reflects on future course improvements.