CURTIN UNIVERSITY BSC SURVEYING - PROBLEM SOLVING (MINIMUM) STANDARDS
3.
Adapted from the AAC&U VALUE Rubrics and acknowledged with thanks. See Assuring Graduate Capabilities
Definition: Problem solving is the process of designing, evaluating and implementing a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
Goal: Independently identifies, understands and evaluates surveying related problems; provides creative solutions considering own and other’s perspectives; Draws clear and unambiguous solutions from results.
Novice to Expert
categories
Expert
Proficient
Competent
Novice
Beginner
Graduates as experienced
professionals can
Graduates as new professionals can
(after two years of employment)
Graduates of this course can
(after four years of study)
Students in the middle stages can
(after two years of study)
Students in the early stages can
(after one semester of study)
Definition of Problem Identify, understand and thoroughly
evaluate problems (theory / praxis).
Formulation shows good knowledge,
relates to context and is logically
developed. Evaluate the problem’s
difficulty.
Identify and understand most problems
(theory / praxis). Formulations show
general knowledge and relate to
context, is detailed, but can be
simplified. Ability to evaluate the
problem’s difficulty.
Identify several problems (theory /
praxis). Formulations show some
knowledge and relates to context,
though superficial or simplified. Some
ability to evaluate the problem’s
difficulty.
Identify some problems (theory /
praxis). Formulations show limited
knowledge, vaguely relate to context
and are oversimplified. Limited ability
to evaluate the problem’s difficulty.
Identifies few basic problems (theory /
praxis). Formulations show no/limited
knowledge, do not relate to context
and are oversimplified. Not able to
evaluate the problem’s difficulty.
Identify Strategies
Independently identify and use
standard and alternative approaches
that clearly relate to context.
Independently identify and use
standard approaches that mostly relate
to context. Show awareness of
alternative and some ability for creative
strategies.
Identify and use standard approaches
that usually relate to context. Show
little ability for creative strategies
and/or needs guidance.
Identify and use some standard
approaches that have some relevance
to context. Need clear guidance to
identify creative strategies.
Have limited ability to identify standard
approaches. Often approach is out of
context.
Propose Solutions
Propose several standard and/or
Propose one or more standard and/or
alternative solutions that apply to
alternative solutions that apply to
context. Individually designed solutions context. Individually designed solutions
demonstrate good comprehension and demonstrate comprehension but with
contain more than one perspective.
minor flaws.
Propose some standard solutions that
apply to context and is aware of
alternative solutions. Individually
designed solutions demonstrate some
comprehension but can be vague
and/or flawed.
Have limited ability to propose other
than standard solutions that apply to
context. Individually designed solutions
demonstrate little comprehension and
are vague, flawed and/or out of context.
Have difficulty in proposing standard
solutions that apply to context. Often
try to apply standard solutions out of
context.
Evaluate Solutions
Provide a full evaluation of standard
and individual solutions demonstrating
a good comprehension of all relevant
dimensions. Evaluation usually
includes analysis and weighing of
different solutions.
Evaluate some standard solutions and
have some abilities to evaluate
individual solutions. Evaluation mostly
focuses on solution but show some
awareness of other dimensions (e.g.
logic, feasibility, ethics, etc.).
Have some ability to evaluate standard Have difficulty evaluating solutions
solutions but limited to evaluate
and/or is superficial. Not aware of
individual solutions. Often evaluation is alternative solutions.
superficial and/or incomplete focusing
mostly on solution.
Usually independently implement
standard solutions in a manner that
mostly addresses the problem. Needs
guidance for individual solutions.
Need some guidance in implementing
standard solutions so that it addresses
the problem. Have difficulty in
implementing individual solutions.
Have difficulty implementing a
standard solution so that it addresses
the problem statement.



Adequately evaluate standard and
individual solutions. Evaluation is
usually thorough, demonstrates
comprehension and includes more than
one dimension (e.g. logic, feasibility,
ethics, etc.).
Implement Solutions Implement standard / individual
Independently implement standard
solutions in a manner that addresses solutions in a manner that addresses
the problem statement. Implementation the problem. Need minimal guidance
is thorough and includes multiple
for individual solutions.
dimensions.
Suggested
Assessment Type


Life-long portfolio.
Assessments through continuous
professional development.


Life-long portfolio.
Assessments through continuous
professional development.

Final year project assesses the
ability for problem solving.
Portfolio demonstrating /
summarizing 3 to 5 achievements
through problem solving.

Assignments set problem and will
assess ability of problem solving.
Development of a portfolio
demonstrating / summarizing
achievements through problem
solving.
Assignments set a problem and
will assess ability of problem
solving.
Support for this resource has been provided by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council Ltd, an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.The views
expressed in this resource do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council. Last updated May 2011