Information Technology – Health Informatics OIT Assessment Report
2008-2009 I. Program History
History
The field of Health Informatics is the result of the convergence of information management and information technologies. Health informatics professionals work in operational and management positions throughout the health care industry in such locales as hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, software vendors and government agencies. This degree option is offered in Klamath Falls and Portland.
II. Program Purpose
The Management faculty reviewed the program purpose, objectives, and learning outcomes during the fall faculty meeting in September 2008. The faculty reaffirmed the statements below:
Information Technology – Health Informatics Mission Statement:
The Information Technology – Health Informatics Option degree provides students with the foundation necessary to enable them to effectively design, develop,
implement, evaluate and manage health care information systems and resources.
Educational Objectives:
(1) The Information Technology – Health Informatics degree program prepares students to contribute to the improvement of health care delivery systems.
(2) The Information Technology – Health Informatics degree program prepares students to adapt to ever-changing industry trends.
(3) The Information Technology – Health Informatics degree program prepares students to succeed in broad industry applications such as mid-level managers or as IT professionals.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this program, Information-Technology – Health Informatics graduates will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the functional areas of accounting, marketing, finance, management, and economics.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and social environment of business.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the global environment of business.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical obligations and responsibilities of business.
5. Demonstrate the ability to use business tools.
6. Demonstrate information literacy.
7. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.
8. Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of business concepts and functions in an integrated manner.
9. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in teams and/or groups.
10. Demonstrate ability to analyze, design, implement, and support Relational Database Management Systems (RBMS)
11. Analyze business needs with the view to design and implement data networks.
12. Perform the general planning and analysis of business systems that will support the development of modern business information systems (IS).
13. Analyze current regulatory, policy, social, organization, financial, and technical issues and needs facing the health care industry to support the design,
development, utilization and assessment of knowledge and information systems used to improve health care.
III. Assessment Cycle
Assessment schedule
IACBE requires all accredited institutions to complete a full assessment cycle for all IACBE core student learning outcomes (SLOs 1-9) on an annual basis. Program- specific learning outcomes (PSLOs 10-12) will be assessed as follows:
Program-Specific Learning Outcomes
2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Demonstrate ability to
analyze, design,
implement, and support RBMS.
X X
Analyze business needs with the view to design and implement data networks.
X
Perform the planning and analysis of business systems to support IS.
X
Analyze current issues and needs facing the health care industry to support the information systems used to
improve health care.
X
IV. 2008-2009 Assessment Activities
Program-Specific Student Learning Outcome #1: Demonstrate ability to analyze, design, implement, and support RBMS.
Direct Assessment #1: The faculty assessed this outcome in MIS 335 Database Programming (online) fall 2008 using a final project. (Note: In-class assessment of this outcome was scheduled for spring 2009; however, due to low enrollment, the spring section of MIS 335 was canceled.) The faculty rated the proficiency of students using the following performance criteria.
Criteria for assessment: Students will be able to
1. Analyze business problems/opportunities to determine system requirements of an RDMS application.
2. Create logical and physical design specifications given system requirements.
3. Demonstrate skills in Structured Query Language (SQL) to operate the RDMS.
4. Create a user interface for the RDMS to allow target users to manipulate data within the RDMS.
IT faculty identified and measured student competency of this PSLO using 17 performance criteria. Five students participated in this assessment activity.
Criteria No proficiency
Some
proficiency Proficiency High proficiency Creation of user
forms 100%
(5/5) Creation of a
procedure 20%
(1/5)
80%
(4/5) Creation of
buttons 40%
(2/5)
60%
(3/5) Creation of
three switch board forms
100%
(5/5) Creation of a
combo box 100%
(5/5)
Integrity of
tables 100%
(5/5) Creation of an
option group 60%
(3/5)
40%
(2/5) Replace an
error message 40%
(2/5)
60%
(3/5) Creation of
seven reports 20%
(1/5)
80%
(4/5) Creation of
menus 20%
(1/5)
80%
(4/5) Creation of
Toolbars 40%
(2/5)
60%
(3/5) Creation of a
custom button 60%
(3/5)
40%
(2/5) Customize a
report 80%
(1/5)
20%
(4/5) Change field
formatting 20%
(1/5)
80%
(4/5) Calculate totals
20%
(1/5)
40%
(2/5)
20%
(1/5)
20%
(1/5) Customize
application 60%
(3/5)
40%
(2/5) Written report
20%
(1/5)
60%
(3/5)
20%
(1/5)
Students met or exceeded expectations on the more general tasks of this project.
Students struggled with the more detailed, complex tasks. It is challenging to teach a lab class in the online environment, and adequate communication may be what is preventing students from excelling in each of these criteria. To this end, faculty will encourage increased communication throughout the quarter. This may include more timely reminders of due dates, a more detailed tutorial to accompany the final project, and the use of Eluminate.
Indirect Assessment: The faculty indirectly assessed this outcome spring term.
Seniors completed a senior survey and attended a focus group session. Both the survey and the focus group asked students to rate how well the Information Technology – Health Informatics program taught the program-specific student learning outcomes and corresponding competencies. Students rated their proficiency using the following criteria for assessment.
Criteria for assessment: Students will be able to
1. Analyze business problems/opportunities to determine system requirements of an RDMS application.
2. Create logical and physical design specifications given system requirements.
3. Demonstrate skills in Structured Query Language (SQL) to operate the RDMS.
4. Create a user interface for the RDMS to allow target users to manipulate data within the RDMS.
Students rated competency of this PSLO using the following three database-related competencies. Five students participated in this assessment activity.
Criteria Does not meet Meets Exceeds Ability to develop
requirements and specifications for multi-user information
systems based on a
database.
67%
(2/3)
33%
(1/3) Ability to create a
data model. 60%
(3/5)
40%
(2/5) Ability to apply and
implement database systems using a programming environment.
33%
(1/3) 67%
(2/3)
V. Student Learning Improvement Plan
During the 2008-2009 academic year there were several changes in the IT program.
First, the Management Department underwent a large amount of faculty turnover, losing three of its full-time faculty fall 2008. The Department was unable to fill these positions during the academic year and had to rely on adjuncts to teach the IT
curriculum. Given that our adjuncts work full-time, the Department decided against asking adjuncts to complete the assessment activities scheduled for 2008-2009. In addition, the Department modified its curriculum to better match IACBE
accreditation standards and changing industry needs winter 2009.
The Department recently hired a full-time IT faculty who will join the Department fall 2009. Assessment within the IT programs will resume fall 2009. It will also be necessary during convocation to revisit the IT PSLOs as modifications may be necessary due to recent curriculum changes.
VI. Changes Resulting from Assessment Not applicable this year.
