The Chronicle of Higher Education, a publication focused on the world of post-secondary education and educators, recently (September 14, 2009) ran an article [Don't Shrug Off Student Evaluations] focusing on the importance of critical feedback and evaluation in classroom instruction from the faculty perspective.
Read the article at: http://chronicle.com/article/Dont-Shrug-Off-Student-Eva/48338/
WARNING!!! To access this article, you will need to do so from the UCF network. Why? UCF pays for a subscription that only gets authenticated via the network. If you attempt to access the article from somewhere other than UCF, you'll be asked to subscribe (which wouldn't be a bad thing but is not necessary for the sake of this assignment).
In the comments section, provide answers to the following questions in consideration of your own collegiate experiences.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
Deadline to comment is Thursday, 12/10/2009, 11:59am
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Providing constructive feedback to a professor about her or his course is of great importance. Such evaluations let them know where they stand as educators. They also provide a wonderful indication of whether or not their lesson plans are effectively meeting the course objectives. The value of student feedback is lost if the professor does not seriously consider the criticism being offered, which I feel may not be uncommon with the more stubborn faculty members.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of sites like ratemyprofessor.com. Some professors are brilliant but make absolutely terrible educators. I have certainly had my fair share of professors who belong as far away from a classroom as humanly possible. Ratemyprofessor.com and sites like it offer students a chance to look before they leap into a potentially bad situation.
I suppose the current system isn’t bad but I’m not sure of the specifics. For example I have been told that professors receive only the best and worst reviews rather than the entire lot. If this is in fact the case than the system is pretty pointless as they do not truly reflect the feelings of the classroom. I think a better system would be a more critical analysis of the coursework and teaching style rather than filling in a scantron and jotting down a couple of sentences on the back.
Dec/6/09
ReplyDelete1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
I feel it is pivotal to the way undergrad undergraduate school will run. If we are not giving good honest feedback on how we thought it was and how it could have been better then the program will never improve. There is always room for improvement. We have been through it first hand and know the defects in the system. Not only do I think it’s a good idea to give honest criticism but also to let the teacher know what would solve any problems. Making the system run smoother.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I thing that web site is for lazy students who don’t care about learning. This teach is easier then that one, is not going to help you get what you actually came to school for I am here to learn and a harder teacher will be better for me because ill come out more knowledgably on the subject then a kid just breezing through his classes. I would almost consider it cheating. Students must know that professors read that stuff.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
No, I think it is perfect. It asked a bunch of general questions that are easy to answer and then has a good part at the end for writing feedback. I think that is a great way to go about it and it is easy for the students and the faculty. If the student has anything extra to say there is a portion on the evaluation where he/she can write whats on their mind. I think it’s a great system.
-Mike Grasso
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteI do not feel that in a system as large as UCF that constructive feedback is important unless the professor is seeking out the information themselves and wants to change things or has a true interest in trying to compromise with the students. Other than that from my experience nothing ever happens.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I think that site like this are very useful in sharing feedback. I think that most people who spend the time to go on there and say something do it because what they have to say is worthwhile and that most people take what is being said seriously when it come to selecting professors.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
I think that a way to improve the system is to hold professors more accountable for their actions in the classroom.
1) Being that I have filled out plenty of teacher evaluations, I have come to find myself thinking that they really have no impact on the educator’s way of teaching. Whenever I bubble in the generic questions, almost every educator I have encountered has done outstanding, even if I did not like the way they taught. They simply followed the rules put out by the university. I suppose after reading this article it changes my outlook a little bit, but I still feel like they are not used to their utmost potential.
ReplyDelete2) Websites like ratemyprofessor, on the other hand, provide a lot of good information for students. I feel that if there are students passionate enough about loving or hating a professor to start their computers, go to the website, find the professor, and write about them, then it must be true. I feel like that feedback would be more honest than that of the teacher evaluations, but I don’t think they shape undergraduate education. I don’t even know if administrators look at websites like that, or if they can change anything because of them.
3) I don’t really feel like the bubble portion of the evaluation is doing anyone any good. I think a lot of students don’t pay any attention to this portion, view the whole thing as an assignment they don’t get graded on, and totally blow through it. If the evaluation was completely free writing, with a few prompts as they have now, I think the feedback would be more constructive. I also feel that the online feedback that UCF implemented this semester was helpful, because being able to take the time out of your own schedule rather than tacking on another assignment in class when you’re trying to leave allows for a much more enjoyable, clear headed experience.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteIt is the greatest example that a student has a concept of critical thinking. To set aside your impulsive feelings and question yourself, did I learn everything of some part of anything the professor presented to me? The realization for the student comes that this is how the professor can get better because he/she certainly can't read my mind.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
They provide a novella of sorts, where you read over entries that can be based in critical thinking, emotional discourse, or sheer anger. A new student can get a feel from hearing from the different perspectives how interactive, verbose, and considerate a professor is. Even though we've never met a professor, the consensus of their writings can fill in the gaps as to whether you can enter into the classroom with some certainty of what to expect.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
The latest change of being available through the MyUCF portal rounds out the system very well maintaining the anonymity. I think the only improvement would be allowing more than 255 characters, which could be in the next revision to come.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteAs a student paying for my own education I feel my input has value because I want to learn and also feel like I’m being taught. Feedback is very important because it can point out if there is a disconnect between the teacher’s perception and the student’s reality. Honest feedback could help communicate if the course is being taught properly and in a relevant manner conducive to learning. With so much coursework being electronic, we often wonder if our teacher is grading our work or—if a teaching assistant who does not know or see us during class, grades our ‘written work’—it’s happened to me before...therefore I wonder.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I think ratemyprofessor_dot_com is another tool—not necessarily ‘the only’ tool. Like everything else, it is good to utilize research tools, tap advisors, listen via word-of-mouth [previous students who’ve had that course/instructor], and also ratemyprofessor_dot_com—in other words—do reasonable research where your decision will be balanced and you will excel. Just one website could be too one-sided and could be a crap-shoot…
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system?
The electronic evaluation seems more efficient to me where one does not feel rushed (like an exam) and has more time to be sincere. Since Mentoring seems to have a big role in Interdisciplinary work, it might be helpful to tap the Mentors who can provide suggestions having helped Mentees, having been a Mentee, and capping it off with being a Mentor…There is value in that continuity [on the inside as a student] helpful to faculty.
Lisa B.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education? I feel honest, constructive feedback is crucial in shaping undergraduate education. It allows the instructor an insight to see what different techniques it takes to teach today’s youth versus what it took for the instructor to learn. It gives the instructor an opportunity to step back and see if he is accomplishing what he wants to.
ReplyDelete2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others? I think, for the most part, that the ratemyprof website is a great tool to use to see what would be expected if a certain professor was taken, and I think it invaluable when sharing honest, constructive feedback with others, but some just seem to be spiteful. It allows you to see what students who have already taken the teacher feel about their teaching style, and just allows you to be more informed.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How? We should just do an anonymous online method of assessing faculty, because I believe that we, as Americans, are so lazy that we won’t write our feelings but we would type them. Also, I feel that the surveys we are given are almost laughable and not many take them seriously, so I do not feel that the current method is even close to being an actual opinion of the teacher.
Also, it seems like the paper version is almost required but the online version would almost necessarily be voluntary unless you imposed some sort of penalty for not doing so.
1) I think feedback is very important whether you are the instructor or student in any situation. I respect teachers very much. I always have. I was the student who listened and felt bad when the students wouldn't be quiet. However, I have had a handful of instructors that had one goal and it didn't have much to do with what we learned, but with what they wanted to tell us. They weren't seemingly worried about our knowledge base. I think it's possible that sometimes teachers/instructors/place-label-here forget it's not just about them and what they want to get out of a semester.
ReplyDelete2) I think there is always a little truth in the comments. I also think there is a bit of grudgery (a word?), frustration and sense of helping others. I've always taken the comments with "a grain of salt," but found there to always have some truth. I've used the warnings as a helpful guide for which to look out for something, so I'm not surprised or blindsided. I see a lot of people say they didn't like the professor personally but it was a good instructor. That's all I'm looking for: a good instructor.
3) I think students need to know how much this actually plays in teacher development. I never took them seriously until a professor explained that people actually read these and they need to be utilized as important, not a waste of time. I've always tried to be fair and honest and only mention what is relevant to others. I've heard a lot of students say they just marked a whole column to hurry up because it didn't matter. I've been chastised for taking the time of filling them analytically.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteI feel like constructive feedback is the most important thing for students. Getting good feedback very quickly can really help a student in need of something or a question that they might need an answer to right away. In my opinion great feedback will lead to a student getting a better grade in the class which will be a great thing in the future. Teachers that don't give good feedback usually don't care about how there students are doing which can be a very bad thing.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
Rate my professor is a great way to see how good your instructors are going to be when you take there class. It has really helped me out allot ion choosing my classes. I would rather take the time to go on this site and pick a good teacher that I feel will really help me do well in the course rather then just picking a random teacher that I don't know anything about.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
The only thing I can really think of to improve this is to make it easier for students to communicate with the faculty. This can be done by making more available hours during the day for students to come in and talk. Overall the faculty does a great job and I am totally satisfied with everything.
1)I think it is absolutely vital. The feedback we as students give allows educators to correct flaws that the students are able to see so that future classes will benefit. Like others I lived on Rate my professor before I chose in class and thing that it was a great system of seeing how students feel about teachers.
ReplyDelete2)I think that this website plays a vital role as I previously stated. It allows us to see how peers viewed professors that eventually we will be signing up to take. It gives very constructive feedback in most cases as long as you are willing to read through multiple comments and not make your judgements off the first one you see.
3)No, I really like the system. It utilizes a variety of questions and allows us to voice our own opinion and write it out. The only problem I have with it is that these surveys are not shared with students. I personally would of liked access to those when choosing my courses rather then having to use a website such as Rate my professor.The criteria on our surveys compared to this website is much more in depth and would allow students to choose courses based off skills teachers have that match there own personal learning styles.
1) Within any profession, honest and critical feedback is necessary, because people are not always aware of their own weaknesses. I think that it's necessary for students to be able to voice their viewpoints on a professor, however I think it is also necessary to hear multiple perspectives, to help eliminate biases.
ReplyDelete2) I don't think that those kinds of sites are always the best, because you're not incorporating all students. Whether or not a student voices their opinion through suchs means is completely optional, so there are not always the wide range of viewpoints needed. In fact, such forums seem to draw people who are looking to be over critical or who want to simply complain.
3) I think there's too much room in the current systems to just mark down whatever answer one wants, without thinking critically, since it works on a multiple choice scale. I think students need to critically think about what they noticed in their professor's teaching and be able to express that. I think that the school also needs to know the right questions to ask, in terms of how to actual evaluate a teacher's ability.
I think providing feed back is a catch 22. If the person can handle it then it works but at the same time if they can not then they go off the deep end. But also it depends on the materials being taught and sometimes feedback on that is going to be a little harsh because people may not like how it is told to them.
ReplyDeleteRate my professor is good when picking gen ed classes because it pretty much tells you dead on and it gives you options to other teachers and allows you to find the one that suites you, but when it comes upper level classes and to only one professor teaching it, then it becomes null and void.
There is no way to improve it. Because its up to the teacher to be able to read the feedback and adjust to make it more to a style they like and would be willing to us. But a teacher is going to teach depending on how he feels the class should be taught.
I believe that honest, constructive feedback is important. I don’t know how my peers treat the professor evaluation, but I know that I give my honest opinion in the hope that they might make improvements because of some insight that I have given them. I would believe that for the majority of professors, what some “little bastards” have to say about them would have little or no effect on their method of instruction.
ReplyDeleteI have never used ratemyprofessor before this semester, and when I did visit the site it was out of curiosity to see what it was like. I found that the opinions of the people who have rated teachers were somewhat consistent with my own. One thing that I didn’t like about the site was that they had a hot or not thing for the teachers. While it is natural to find some people attractive, I do not believe that should be in consideration while deciding if you should take a course with someone. However, on second thought; I do tend to pay more attention to a teacher that I find attractive, so this may be a useful tool, but I still think it’s inappropriate
I think there is always a way to improve upon everything. It is unfortunate that the university is relying on me to come up with the newest method of instructor evaluations. I believe that the current system is good, but it hard to tell since we the students only know what one half of the process is. I would be more inclined to assess our professor assessment process if I could see how my teachers handle the assessment, and what they then do as a result.
Feedback and evaluations are important. I tell me team at Rosen that their feedback is always important and I welcome their honest opinions of me. I also provide them with feedback in the form of evaluations done quarterly and other methods.
ReplyDeleteI do believe in providing an evaluation of my professors that is fair and accurate. I do not base it off of my grades generally, as those are a reflection of me and not the professor. I am a not a fan of ratemyprofessor.com or other sites. I have never used them. In all honesty, because I have worked full time through most of my schooling my selection of courses has not been based on the professor but rather when and where it takes place based on my work schedule.
This semester was the first semester that the professor evaluation was offered through myUCF. This may be because most of my classes were at Rosen, I am not sure. But I was not able to do the evaluation. Everytime I tried it would not open up. Maybe I was doing it wrong, I do not feel parts of myUCF are very user friendly.
I am not sure why we are moving away from the good ol' fashioned scantron, but maybe I am old fashioned.
This article makes me glad to have filled out so many evaluations for teachers.
ReplyDeleteHonest, constructive feedback is vital in shaping undergraduate education because some of the students will become educators. We have all had that professor(s) that clearly didn’t go out of their way to explain something, or appeared careless about whether or not you get anything out of the course. In my opinion, those are the kind of professors that should be contributing to the nation’s unemployment numbers, rather than collecting a paycheck.
However, there are many students who blame a professor because he or she couldn’t make the grade in which they were hoping. I used to find sites like ratemyproffesor.com helpful in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others, but it has turned out to be unreliable. I would check ratemayprofessor.com and related sites for fun, but not as a determinate as to whether or not to take specific classes.
In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, I believe evaluations should be conducted in the classroom (like they did prior to being conducted exclusively online). That way, more students are more likely to provide feedback.
I think constructive feedback is the key to learning. I think any professor who will not listen and be open to honest constructive feedback should not be teaching, because he/she obviously does not care whether his students are learning. Throughout our college career we are given tons of constructive feedback from our professors. We as their audience should be honest and tell them if they are delivering the information in the best possible ways.
ReplyDeleteI honestly have never visited ratemyprofessor.com, so I am not too sure how it works. But from what I’ve heard sometimes it’s accurate and other times the site is way off. I think that if you are going to look at the site for college professors, hopefully you are smart enough not to pick your class schedule according to a web site where anyone and everyone can post comments.
I think UCF does a decent job with professor assessments. I always take time to write about things I was pleased with in the course and thing that could have used improvement. If the teachers really read them and try to find a solution to a recurring problem, I feel that the next semester the course will be even more beneficial to the students.
How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteHonest and constructive feedback is very important in helping the professor understand if what or the way they are teaching is effective or not. Through these evaluations the professor can better adjust their curriculum for the sake of future students.
What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor.com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I think all students at some point in their academic career have referenced one of these websites. I don’t believe them to be very honest or much help for that matter. It seems as if most of the students posting comments are not very serious about their education and expected the professor to be an easy pass without having to actually learn anything.
In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
While not always voluntary, I believe students are not always truthful in evaluation though surveys. It could be that they just did not like the professor and gave them bad remarks even though the student was the one who didn’t do their part. The opposite could also occur and the student makes the professor sound better than they actually were. I believe that a voluntary verbal survey system would bring about more honest personal evaluations.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteIt's extremely important for shaping an undergraduate education. But like you stated it needs to be honest and constructive. How can anyone improve if they do not know where the source wants improvements made? We're paying for it after all.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
It's really hit or miss. Most people would not take the time out to go on one of those sites unless they really hated their professor or really enjoyed their professor. But when you look at the overall ratings, it's something to look into to. I have never been, but I hear lots of students using those types of sites when it comes to registration time.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
I think the evaluation is good but it can be improved. From my right brained perspective, I honestly feel there should be some questions based upon how approachable, understandable, and likebale to teacher was. I have come across some mean and angry professors who seem to hate their lives and they need an attitude readjustment. If we learn in a positive environment, we see positive outcomes :)
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteI think it's extremely important. As the author of this article said, a teacher might have fallen into certain habits without even realizing it.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I think sites like this are great as long as you look at the actual feedback given by students, not just the "rating". People might give a teacher a good rating just because their class was easy, or a bad rating because it was difficult. Regardless of the ratings, critically evaluating the responses of the students can give a lot of insight into what a teacher's like, I think.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
The only way I can think of to improve the system is to give students a better idea of how the process works after students submit their evaluations.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is very important if it is actually taken in a constructive way. There is always room for improvement and you will never know what you are doing wrong if no one tells you.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I actually think that the site has a big impact because it is completely honest. The contributers are saying exactly what they think about the professor and the class overall. Since it is a public site, professors can get the brutally honest truth as opposed to seeing the evaluations that students are forced to bubble in.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
I would say that there really should not be a lot of questions. The fact of the matter is that the evaluations are a pain to do and unless a student really has a strong opinion about something, he or she is not going to take much time doing it. Those who do have strong opinions will write it whether there are 5 questions or 25 questions. You are more likely to get honest feedback on a single question than on a bunch of questions no one really wants to answer in the first place. So, the online process is probably a step in the right direction.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great tool if used in the way it was meant. Sometimes students take it as a joke and write things that are not helpful. If I have a concern about a class I feel like that is a good way to let the professor know so that the problem can be fixed. If you're teaching you should want your students to actually learn and be interested in what you're saying.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I think for the most part it is a great tool, though sometimes people are too brutal and often the comments are unreliable.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
Many times I feel that the questions that are to be bubbled in are irrelevant to the class and also many times asking the same thing in different words. The most important things are said in the comments section where I have a chance to say what was good and not so good about a class.
Feedback is always important. Marketing lets me know that the consumer is the most important person in the transaction. In the business of education, the student takes the role of the customer. Should the customer be dissatisfied with the end result then he should by all means be entitled to sound off on his uneasiness, this way the business improves, pleases more customers and the industry grows.
ReplyDeleteTeacher rating websites provide a basic understanding of what students can expect in terms of examination, course content and necessity of application. I think that they are biased based on the fact that its either the very scorned or the students that feel they owe the professor something so they graft their review accordingly.
Since students have a withdraw date I think an interim evaluation of the professor would ultimately benefit the class. The instructors are only human, they have their right make mistakes however they may not always be aware or acknowledge it.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education?
ReplyDeleteI feel that honest, constructive feedback are very significant in shaping an undergraduate! However, it's sad to see that there are those educators/leaders that abuse that strategy and it becomes more of a negative towards the undergraduate. Doing it the wrong way could only discourage the student and crush their self confidence! Also, being an undergraduate is already scary enough, so to have inspiration and guidance is very vital! Helpful constructive feedback, is good... Belittling and never given credit for work that had effort put into it, is bed and destructive for the student down the road.
2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others?
I feel that certain sites could either be very helpful or very immature and shouldn't be taken seriously. ALthough, i've also found it to be honest and constructive feedback for students... especially for undergraduate students who really don't know what's best for them in the beginning.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How?
I think the system is actually helpful, for both parties... I honestly have no complaints or suggestions for improvement.
I feel feedback is very important. Too many people live in a delusional state because they don’t have anyone to tell them when they are inadvertently doing something wrong. This is how we end up with tyrannical leaders in government business and even education. As long as the feedback is taken to heart, I believe that it is a invaluable tool in shaping undergraduate education.
ReplyDeleteI live by rate my professor. Although you have the occasional disgruntled student making allegations against the professor who failed them, you can usually disseminate the truth by viewing the overall ratings of the professors. I have gone against the advice of rate my professor a couple of times to suit my schedule and regretted every minute of it.
I don’t see any improvements that need to be made to the current system. I like the way that they have moved it completely online. this eliminates the discomfort of rating the professor who handed you the survey.
1) How important do you feel honest, constructive feedback is in shaping undergraduate education? I think it is very important. Many students follow paths of study based on the feedback they get from professors and advisors.
ReplyDelete2) What role do you think websites such as ratemyprofessor_dot_com play in sharing honest, constructive feedback with others? I don't think sites like that offer honest "honest" feedback. Most of the comments on sites like that are subjective depending on the student and their experience in the course.
3) In consideration of the current system we have for students assessing faculty instruction, is there a way we can improve this system? How? Most students don't want to fill out the faculty evaluation forms and there for fly through them as fast as possible. Many ignore the comments sections, and just bubble in a straight line, I think if the students were more invested in the faculty evaluations they might consider them more seriously.