Improving Teaching
Course evaluation forms and procedures are one part
of a an overall program to improve teaching and learning
at Western Washington University. This program includes a number of options for bubble sheet evaluation packets, student comment sheets, online evaluations for distance-learning classes, and a mid-term evaluation option for Blackboard users.
Western also provides extensive support to help faculty improve teaching and student learning through the Center
for Instructional Innovation, including workshops, resources,
the Innovative
Teaching Showcase, and the Teaching
and Learning Academy.
All faculty members are encouraged to take advantage of
these programs to continually improve the quality of their
teaching and their students' learning.
Interpreting Evaluations
Student Evaluations of Instruction provide one limited
measure of an instructor's teaching abilities. A rigorous
evaluation of teaching effectiveness should also include
peer evaluations, course portfolios, teaching portfolios,
or other instruments.
To help in the interpretation of student evaluations,
the Testing Center has conducted an analysis [PDF]
of recent teaching evaluations which highlights the many
sources of variation in ratings associated with extraneous
factors unrelated to instructor ability. |
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