Comments on: Evaluations: When to Give ‘Em, and When to Read ‘Em http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/ Tips, tutorials, and commentary on pedagogy, productivity, and technology in higher education. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:08:50 -0400 hourly 1 By: William Patrick Wend http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3856 William Patrick Wend Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:40:13 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3856 <p>Oh, I like that idea! I would've loved it as a student as well.</p> Oh, I like that idea! I would’ve loved it as a student as well.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Evaluations: When to Give ‘Em, and When to Read ‘Em -- Topsy.com http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3846 Tweets that mention Evaluations: When to Give ‘Em, and When to Read ‘Em -- Topsy.com Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:33:35 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3846 <p>[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ethan Watrall and Traci Gardner, Teaching Commons. Teaching Commons said: Evaluations: When to Give ‘Em, and When to Read ‘Em - http://shar.es/aEFHR [...]</p> [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ethan Watrall and Traci Gardner, Teaching Commons. Teaching Commons said: Evaluations: When to Give ‘Em, and When to Read ‘Em – http://shar.es/aEFHR [...]

]]> By: Tria Wood http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3831 Tria Wood Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:51:25 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3831 <p>My college also conducts evaluations online at the end of the semester, so I have no control over when or if my students complete them.</p> My college also conducts evaluations online at the end of the semester, so I have no control over when or if my students complete them.

]]> By: Christopher Heard http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3816 Christopher Heard Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:12:24 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3816 <p>My institution recently moved to an online evaluation system, so everything is now centrally controlled. Evaluations are now collected in the week before final exams, online. E-mail reminders encourage students to participate.</p> <p>Many of my colleagues give self-designed mid-semester evaluations as well, tailored to the specific needs of the course.</p> My institution recently moved to an online evaluation system, so everything is now centrally controlled. Evaluations are now collected in the week before final exams, online. E-mail reminders encourage students to participate.

Many of my colleagues give self-designed mid-semester evaluations as well, tailored to the specific needs of the course.

]]> By: William Patrick Wend http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3814 William Patrick Wend Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:14:49 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3814 <p>As an adjunct, I had no say in when my evaluations were done. In fact, I wasn't told until the evaluator/projector knocked on my door in the middle of my lecture each time.</p> As an adjunct, I had no say in when my evaluations were done. In fact, I wasn’t told until the evaluator/projector knocked on my door in the middle of my lecture each time.

]]> By: Billie http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3812 Billie Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:47:02 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3812 <p>I tend to give them as late in the semester as I can (avoiding the last day). This way, the students have completed most of their work and they have received most of it back. They then have a good sense of their grade. Additionally, during the last several class sessions, I ask students reflection questions: "What has this assignment taught you?" or "What have you learned in this course that will help you in the rest of your academic career?" (and similar type questions). I believe that if students can identify how the course has been helpful to them and if they can identify the tools they've gained (whether those are a part if course objectives or not), the student can see the value in the course. If students can then see the value of what we have done, they do tend to evaluate the course more positively. I write this, then I realize that it might seem that I'm baiting students to reply in a positive manner. Well, yes and no. I want the evaluations to be good, but I ask the questions without regard to evaluations. I ask students to reflect throughout the term, not just at the end.</p> I tend to give them as late in the semester as I can (avoiding the last day). This way, the students have completed most of their work and they have received most of it back. They then have a good sense of their grade. Additionally, during the last several class sessions, I ask students reflection questions: “What has this assignment taught you?” or “What have you learned in this course that will help you in the rest of your academic career?” (and similar type questions). I believe that if students can identify how the course has been helpful to them and if they can identify the tools they’ve gained (whether those are a part if course objectives or not), the student can see the value in the course. If students can then see the value of what we have done, they do tend to evaluate the course more positively. I write this, then I realize that it might seem that I’m baiting students to reply in a positive manner. Well, yes and no. I want the evaluations to be good, but I ask the questions without regard to evaluations. I ask students to reflect throughout the term, not just at the end.

]]> By: Nels http://www.profhacker.com/2009/12/01/evaluations-when-to-give-em-and-when-to-read-em/comment-page-1/#comment-3810 Nels Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:34:18 +0000 http://www.profhacker.com/?p=3894#comment-3810 <p>I give them out on a day in the last couple of weeks when I suspect that most of the class will be there. Since my deadlines for assignments are usually weekends by email, I don't have to worry about the grading scenarios that Jason mentions. I am giving them out today because it's the day I'm assigning the final project off the course. I had sixteen out of twenty in the first class and am hoping for a full set in my later class.</p> <p>When I get them back, I take them and type up all of the responses. I do this because I want to include representative comments in my annual review, and it helps me group them and see what consistencies there are. Having them typed up also helped immensely when I went up for tenure and when I applied for the university teaching award.</p> <p>As an administrator, I get the evaluations for all adjuncts in my program. I take them and read them. Yes, I read all of them. I then type up a letter that summarizes key trends and give the letter and the evaluations to the adjunct. This helps with issues of hiring and also adjunct teaching awards. It also helps me when writing reference letters for adjuncts when they apply to PhD programs and/or jobs.</p> I give them out on a day in the last couple of weeks when I suspect that most of the class will be there. Since my deadlines for assignments are usually weekends by email, I don’t have to worry about the grading scenarios that Jason mentions. I am giving them out today because it’s the day I’m assigning the final project off the course. I had sixteen out of twenty in the first class and am hoping for a full set in my later class.

When I get them back, I take them and type up all of the responses. I do this because I want to include representative comments in my annual review, and it helps me group them and see what consistencies there are. Having them typed up also helped immensely when I went up for tenure and when I applied for the university teaching award.

As an administrator, I get the evaluations for all adjuncts in my program. I take them and read them. Yes, I read all of them. I then type up a letter that summarizes key trends and give the letter and the evaluations to the adjunct. This helps with issues of hiring and also adjunct teaching awards. It also helps me when writing reference letters for adjuncts when they apply to PhD programs and/or jobs.

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