WMU Essential Studies

Teach a WES Course

Information for instructors or faculty currently teaching a WES course or who plan on teaching one in the future.

Tasks

Before the semester

Read About WES for background information.

Watch the video “The Why and How of WMU Essential Studies” for background knowledge.

Look at the WMU Essential Studies Interactive Model to learn more about where your course fits in WES. Check level and category.

Ask your chair to give you the master syllabus and assessment plan for your course.

Learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and WMU Essential Studies Outcome Rubrics. Download as needed.

Plan your course using the master syllabus and assessment plan. Peruse these master-syllabus and assessment-plan samples (Appendix E pg. 29) to help with planning.

Decide on assignments to support the assessment plan.

Avoid over assessing for WES.

Go to your E-Learning site and find your WES Assessment. It will be preloaded in the “Grading” section of your shell after Census.

Contact the Instructional Technology Center for tech questions.

Email the WES Director with curricular questions.

During the semester

Teach and assess students according to your assessment plan.

Occasionally review the SLOs as needed.

At the end of the semester

Fill in the WES assessment that is included in your E-Learning shell. Try to complete this assessment during Final Exam Week.

If you have questions, visit Directions on how to enter Student Learning Outcomes rubric numbers or video

If you have a large class, read/watch Directions on how to enter Student Learning Outcomes for large classes or video

Contact Brian Carnell with WES assessment in E-Learning questions.

Resources

The Why and How of WMU Essential Studies Master Syllabus and Assessment Plan Samples

FAQs

Where should I go to get started with planning to teach a WES course?

Visit the WES Website to begin researching WES and how to plan to teach a WES course.

How should I decide if I am teaching a “large class”? Is there a cut-off?

The decision of what constitutes a “large class” is up to the instructor. You can decide whether or not you want to use the large class option to complete the WES assessment. Email Brian Carnell to change to a large course option. The large course option is a term we use when an instructor wants to automate their assessment through an assignment.

It is after Census, and I don’t see WES assessment in my E-Learning shell, or the wrong assessment is there. What should I do?

Please contact Brian Carnell to get help with adding WES to your E-Learning shell.

When should I complete the E-Learning assessment?

It is recommended that you complete the E-Learning assessment of your WES course during Final Exam Week.

Does WES assessment affect my students’ grades in the course?

No, the WES assessment does not affect students’ grades. The data is used for programmatic assessment and improvement.

Who should I contact with questions about teaching a WES course?

You can contact your chair or the WES Director.