Learning Outcomes for the Athletic Training/Clinic Management Major:

The Athletic Training/Clinic Management Major, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP; www.caahep.org), prepares students to enter the athletic training profession. Athletic Training/Clinic Management (AT/CM) students in this undergraduate major are educated in all aspects of the professional practice of a Certified Athletic Trainer. Through a combination of extensive classroom and clinical experiences in athletic training, this undergraduate major provides students the necessary competencies to challenge the Board of Certification (BOC; www.bocatc.org) Examination.

This is the first year of assessment following accreditation by the CAAHEP and preceding the implementation of a free standing AT/CM Major. The current assessment plan is within the first year of implementation and no program trends are available at this time.

1. Enter the athletic training profession within one year of graduation.
2. Develop effective critical thinking and problem solving skills compatible with being an effective athletic trainer.
3. Develop effective communication skills compatible with being an effective athletic trainer as shown by proficiency in writing and in making presentations.
4. Develop entry-level competencies and proficiencies of an athletic trainer.
5. Engage others in actions as shown by proficiencies in participating and leading.

Annual Report

1. Learning (Or Service) Outcomes Assessed This Year:
All learning outcomes are assessed annually as a strategy for aggressively appraising AT/CM curriculum and course content and fulfilling accreditation requirements by CAAHEP and the Joint Review Committee - Athletic Training (JRC-AT; www.jrc-at.org). Revisions are implemented as needed (see Annual Report Section 4 - Actions Taken/Program Improvements).

2. Assessment Methods and Procedures:
Assessment is related to a set of values established by the athletic training profession. Assessment is multi-dimensional, based on integrated learning experiences, and involves an on-going linked series of activities. Internal and external assessments are conducted regularly.

Internal Assessments
Learning outcomes are evaluated throughout a student's AT/CM program. Assessment involves an overall evaluation of didactic and clinical performance, as well as individual evaluations reflecting learning over time. The following are internal indicators that provide a basis for appraising learning outcomes.

Learning Outcome Assessment
Indicators
1 None
2 a. Approved Clinical Instructor (ACI) evaluations
b. Mock pre-participation evaluation (PPE) project
c. Mock written examinations (3)
3 a. Presentations in ATCM 316 - Therapeutic Athletic Exercise (rehabilitation project)
b. Presentations in ATCM 415 - Therapeutic Medications & Health Conditions (policies and procedures)
c. Presentations in KNS 429 - Sport Conditioning (strength and conditioning project)
d. Presentations in SM 214 - Introduction to Research in HMSLS (research project)
4 a. Successful completion of all clinical modules
b. Mock written examinations (3)
c. ACI evaluations
5 a. ACI evaluations
b. Peer evaluations in clinical modules
c. Student comments in journals

External Assessments
Learning outcomes are evaluated throughout students' performances in the field and through alumnae/i and employer evaluations. The following are external indicators that provide a basis for appraising learning outcomes.

Learning Outcome Assessment
Indicators
1 a. Successful completion of the BOC exam within one year of graduation.
b. Employment in an athletic training or related position within one year of graduation.
2 a. Alumni evaluations
b. Employer evaluations
3 a. Presentations in SM 489 - Internship in Sport Management (clinical-based project)
4 a. Successful completion of the BOC exam within one year of graduation.
5 None

3. Inferences From Assessments:

The following numbered inferences pertain to the corresponding learning outcomes.

1. There is only one student who has graduated from the accredited AT/CM program and he is currently a Certified Athletic Trainer and employed. There will be two more students graduating this May who have attempted the BOC exam but are not yet certified. Three more students will graduate this summer (August) after completing their internships. BGSU AT/CM students are within the national average of students completing the certification exam on their first attempt. The 2004 national average is 35% while BGSU is 33% (1 of 3). There is limited national data available on students successfully completing the certification examination after the first attempt. The certification examination is a three part exam. If a student completes one part successfully they do not have to take that part again.

2. All evaluations have been completed by the ACIs (100%). All ACI evaluations generally reflect competency appropriate to level within the AT/CM program. The alumnae/i evaluation has not been returned to date, nor has the employer survey. Three of six students completed the mock PPE project, implemented in spring 2005. While students completed an effective PPE, their report failed to reference best practices available in the literature. In the 2004-2005 academic year, two level 4 students completed the mock examination and failed to achieve the 60% target score. Among the level 3 students, seven of the twelve students (58%) achieved the 50% target score. Of the level 2 students, seven of the nine (84%) achieved the target score of 40%. Results of the mock written examination for level 2 students were encouraging, but the level 3-4 students’ results were disappointing, as these students had completed additional AT/CM major courses.

3. All six students have satisfactorily completed presentations in the aforementioned courses. Students need to become more proficient in oral presentations. Their written skills are average.

4. All of the professional-phase students have satisfactorily completed their assigned modules. The majority of modules were evaluated by one ACI in the 2004 - 05 academic year. In the 2004-2005 academic year, two level 4 students completed the mock examination and failed to achieve the 60% target score. Among the level 3 students, seven of the twelve students (58%) achieved the 50% target score. Of the level 2 students, seven of the nine (84%) achieved the target score of 40%. Results of the mock written examination for level 2 students were encouraging, but the level 3-4 students’ results were disappointing, as these students had completed additional AT/CM major courses. All ACI evaluations were collected and generally reflected competency appropriate to level within the AT/CM program. One student was certified out of three eligible.

5. All ACI evaluations have been collected and all of the students have served as peer evaluators for younger, pre-professional students. While all of the upper level students engaged in peer teaching, some lower level students commented that some are more effective in leadership skills. ACIs frequently encouraged upper level students to be more engaged in peer teaching and demonstrate leadership.

4. Actions Taken/Program Improvements:

Assessment results will play an integral role in AT/CM program improvement and maintenance of accreditation. The following numbered actions pertain to the corresponding learning outcomes.

1. Continue to monitor students’ certification examination results and employment status after graduation.

2. We will continue to monitor ACI evaluations for any improvements needed. The alumnae/i and employer evaluations are not available at this time. The mock PPE project proved to be successful in the student’s ability to administer it. The mock written examination is also successful to educate the students in the relevance of learning over time.

3. Collection of projects/presentations began in Fall 2004. We will encourage instructions to provide more specific project/presentation guidelines as students typically seem to need extensive guidelines to improve the quality of their projects.

4. We routinely document completion of clinical proficiencies. At the next annual ACI training, we will encourage a) more instructors to provide evaluation of clinical skills within the clinical sites, and b) ACIs to more rigorously evaluate these clinical skills. We will encourage students to view mock examinations with more sincerity and will continue to monitor student progress. We will continue regular discussions with the head athletic trainer about clinical supervision and seek off-campus affiliated clinical sites to enhance the quality of clinical experience.

5. We will continue to monitor and encourage students to develop and display more leadership skills.