Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Assessment
Formative and summative evaluation of the program were carried out using multiple approaches. The formative evaluation occurred onsite through daily meetings between the director and student participants. These meetings often took place during lunch or dinner. Emphasis was placed on cultural experiences in the students interactions with UCC students and their faculty mentors as well as challenges associated with the projects. Suggestions from students were readily incorporated into the program during the program to ensure constant improvement. Summative evaluation took place in the form of a pre-trip questionnaire that was completed by students before the trip and a post-trip questionnaire that they completed upon their return to the U.S.
Formative assessment:
- Daily feedback: Because all participants in the group ate together, the students had an opportunity to ask questions and provide information to the Program Director on a regular basis
- Weekly report: Students wrote weekly reports about their experiences. The reports comprised of (a) academic experience and (b) cultural experience. In addition, students wrote short reports about the field trips and other unique experiences throughout the trip. Below are some examples:
- Report on festivals (Joe Doherty)
- Week 5 report (Katie Provost)
- Slide presentation at JMU Honors Brown Bag session (Dr. Wubah, Joe Doherty and Donna Chang)
Summative assessment:
Students have had an opportunity to present the results of their work in Ghana in written and oral form at several fora since they returned. Examples of their presentations can be found below:
- 2002 UMBC Regional Symposium in Biological and Chemical Sciences, Baltimore, MD, November 2002
- 2003 National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Salt Lake City, UT, April 2003
