Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences ULO Rubric

Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences

A person who is competent in scientific reasoning adheres to a self-correcting system of inquiry (the scientific method) and relies on empirical evidence to describe, understand, and predict natural phenomena.

University Learning Outcome (ULO) Criteria

Apply knowledge and the methods characteristic of scientific inquiry to think critically about and solve theoretical and practical problems about physical structures and processes.

1. Apply foundational knowledge and models of a natural or physical science to analyze and/or predict phenomena.
2. Understand the scientific method and apply scientific reasoning to critically evaluate assertions.
3. Interpret and communicate scientific information via written, spoken, and/or visual representations.
4. Describe the relevance of specific scientific principles to the human experience.
5. Form and test a hypothesis in the *laboratory, classroom, or field using discipline-specific tools and techniques for data collection and/or analysis.

Students are required to take two different courses that fulfill the above outcomes, and at least one of the courses must include accompanying laboratory experience.

The Boise State University Learning Outcomes for Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences are closely based on the Idaho State Board of Education’s Scientific Ways of Knowing rubric.

Rubric

Downloadable Version: Natural, Physical, and Applied Sciences ULO Rubric

CRITERIA	4 Exemplary Work	3 Good Work	2 Developing Work	1 Unsatisfactory Work
1 Foundational Knowledge: Apply foundational knowledge and models of a natural or physical science to analyze and/or predict phenomena.	Demonstrates detailed understanding of the facts and theoretical models of a traditional natural or physical science, and employs this to correctly pose and answer questions related to the analysis and prediction of phenomena.	Demonstrates knowledge of the facts and theoretical models of a traditional natural or physical science, and can use this information to correctly solve problems and describe phenomena.	Possesses basic awareness of the bounds and subject matter of a specific natural or physical science, and has basic reasoning skills required for analytical problem solving.	Displays little or no awareness of the bounds and subject matter of a specific natural or physical science; one or more basic reasoning skills needs further development to adequately support analytical problem solving.
2 Scientific Method and Reasoning: Understand the scientific method and apply scientific reasoning to critically evaluate assertions.	Demonstrates thorough understanding of all steps of the scientific method, and applies this knowledge to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of scientific assertions.	Demonstrates sound grasp of the scientific method and correctly applies scientific reasoning to assess the validity of assertions.	Is acquainted with the basic outline of the steps composing the scientific methods and is aware of the role of evidence in scientific reasoning.	Unable to accurately outline the steps composing the scientific method; disregards or misunderstands the role of evidence in scientific reasoning.
3 Scientific Communication: Interpret and communicate scientific information via written, spoken, and/or visual representations.	Clearly conveys scientific data, reasoning, and conclusions through written, verbal, and graphical presentations. Correctly gathers similar information from figures, technical writing, and spoken communication.	Demonstrates ability to accurately convey and receive scientific information through words and pictures.	Has been introduced to graphical presentations of information and basic scientific terminology, but sometimes struggles to accurately interpret or convey scientific information through words or pictures.	Displays little or no familiarity with graphical presentations of information and basic scientific terminology. Displays little or no ability to accurately interpret or convey scientific information through words or pictures.
4 Relate to Human Experience: Describe the relevance of specific scientific principles to the human experience.	Can use specific scientific principles to predict events within the real-world, everyday experience of the student, and predict outcomes or make judgments related to broader societal issues.	Can explain how specific scientific principles describe events within the real-world, everyday experience of the student, or inform understanding of broader societal issues.	Is aware that scientific principles describe the world around them and have both predictive and explanatory value	Is unable to communicate how scientific principles describe the world around them; Disregards or misunderstands the predictive and explanatory value.
5 Hypothesis Testing: Form and test a hypothesis in the laboratory using discipline-specific tools and techniques for data collection and/or analysis.	Independently formulates a hypothesis. Designs and executes an experiment to confirm or refute it. Assesses the quality of the experimental results and draws appropriate conclusions.	Is able to formulate a hypothesis in response to a problem or prompt, execute an experiment and analyzes data that specifically addresses hypothesis, and draw conclusions based on data.	Understands the role of experimentation in science.	Disregards or misunderstands the role of experimentation in science.