Objective evaluation of a program in general education.

Abstract

A program in General Education was initiated in The College of the University of Pittsburgh in 1955 after two years of intensive self-study and painstaking syllabus development. The faculty approved the program in principle but insisted that it be adopted experimentally and that learning outcomes be measured objectively. An extensive pretest battery was applied and posttesting was done after one, two, and four years.The four courses in General Education were:Core Curriculum 1-2, Written and Spoken English, 8 credit hours; Core Curriculum 3-4, Humanities, 6 credit hours; Core Curriculum 5-6, Social Science, 6 credit hours; Core Curriculum 7-8, Natural Science, 6 credit hours. The research design for the present study was planned concurrently with the development of course outlines.Each of the courses was a two-semester offering for freshmen. Each was offered in two sections with enrollment limited to 25 students per section. Teachers were volunteers and were generally distinguished for their enthusiasm for General Education. All had been members of the University faculty for at least one previous year. Students entering these courses did so by invitation only and were given a remission of half tuition for the core courses in which they registered. l At the time this study was conducted, G. L. Fahey was Director of the University Testing Service and J. M. Ball waa Chairman of the Curriculum Committee of The College, University of Pittsburgh. * Each Critical Ratio is baaed on an experimental mean minus the control mean. Difference* favoring the controls are indicated by (-). * Hignificnt a t the .05 level. •• Significant at the .01 level.