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Paper No. 11
Presentation Time: 10:55 AM

THE ASBOG FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY EXAMINATION: NEW DEVELOMENTS IN DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR GEOSCIENCE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT, ACCREDITATION, AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT


SPRUILL, Richard K., Department of Geological Sciences, East Carolina University, 101 Graham Building, Greeniville, NC 27858, KATH, Randy L., Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118 and WARNER, Jack L., TEST, Inc, 10088 Rockrose Court, Parker, CO 80134-9506, spruillr@ecu.edu

The National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG®) administers the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) examinations twice each year in 30 US States/Puerto Rico. The FG Exam, the focus of this presentation, emphasizes knowledge and skills that are typically learned in undergraduate academic programs. Beginning with the March 2008 administration, new data collection procedures facilitated the compilation of important demographic information for test participants. Examples of data currently collected include: educational background, i.e., degrees awarded and Universities attended; current geologic specialty in the workforce; number of times taking the FG, etc.

Routine statistical analyses are conducted to evaluate the relationship between these background variables and success/failure rates. Some examples of the types of data evaluation and conclusions are:

  • Passing rates for candidates with different education levels - An average of 58% of all candidates passed the FG Exam
  • Candidates with advanced degrees were more likely to pass the FG Exam compared to candidates with no degree (seniors) or a BA/BS degree
  • Candidates taking the FG Exam for the first time were more likely to pass relative to candidates taking the exam two or more times
  • There are significant differences in candidate performance based on reported graduation date of the BS/BA degree

A long-term goal of our data collection program is to provide important statistical information to Geoscience programs nationwide regarding the performance of their graduates. For example, we can provide temporal performance data for candidates of a specific Geoscience Department in each of the eight content domain areas (General/Field Geology, Min/Pet/Geochemistry, Sedimentology/Stratigraphy/Paleontology, Geomorphology, Structure/Tectonics/Seismology, Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, Economic/Energy Resources) of the FG Exam, and compare these results against the national passing rates and performance in each content domain area. A new, menu-driven, graphing application, programmed in Microsoft Access, will be presented that allows Geoscience Departments to use their FG data for program review, assessment, and modification. ASBOG® plans to distribute the data to qualifying Geoscience Departments in 2014.

Session No. 319

T125. Geoscience Education and Outreach: 50 Years of Progress I
Wednesday, 30 October 2013: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Room 404 (Colorado Convention Center)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 45, No. 7, p.734
© Copyright 2013 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.
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