HILT 2017 Conference: Stories of effective and ineffective evaluations of teaching

TL;DR

Students share their experiences and feedback on teacher evaluations and course content, highlighting the importance of receiving feedback from students and addressing their concerns.

Transcript

Well, first of all, thank you all for being here. My name is Marty Samuels. I work at the art center, I'm the associate director of science and learning. And I have two of my colleagues who I get to share this session with. But really the session is --and I'll let them introduce themselves-- but really I want to focus this session on an opportunity... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 Students appreciate professors who are open to feedback and willing to make changes based on student input.
• ❓ The timing of evaluations, soliciting feedback after a semester, and involving alumni in the feedback process can improve the effectiveness of evaluations.
• 🧑‍🎓 The Q Guide is a valuable resource for students, but individual experiences may vary, and students should approach it with caution.
• 🖕 Mid-semester evaluations provide an opportunity for students to raise concerns and suggestions, but they should take into account the limitations and practicality of implementing changes in the middle of a course.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do students feel about giving feedback to their professors during mid-semester evaluations?

Students appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback, but it is important for professors to address concerns raised during these evaluations. Some students feel their feedback is not considered, while others appreciate professors who take their feedback seriously.

Q: Do students value the Q Guide, and how do they use it to make decisions about course selection?

Students value the Q Guide as a source of information about course content, workload, and professor effectiveness. However, they also acknowledge that it may not always reflect their own experience or account for individual differences in learning styles.

Q: Can continuous feedback throughout the semester be an effective alternative to end-of-semester evaluations?

While continuous feedback can be beneficial, it is still important to have an end-of-semester evaluation to capture overall reflections and outcomes. Continuous feedback can be collected through email communication or candid office hours to maintain an open line of communication.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Students discuss their experiences with teacher evaluations in different classes, highlighting both positive and challenging situations.

• Some students appreciate professors who are open to feedback and make changes based on student input, while others feel their feedback is not considered.

• The timing of evaluations, soliciting feedback after a semester, and involving alumni in the feedback process are all areas for improvement.