Bus Test vs. Embarrassment Test

• First Question: What if students learn better in a course they don't like?
  published on 2007-12-31 12:14:00-05:00
  What if the following are BOTH true for a particular course at the same time? Some kind of learning outcomes assessment conducted on all students who just completed the course clearly demonstrates superior student learning ...

• What kinds of evidence counts?
  published on 2007-12-20 12:28:00-05:00
  How does anyone know, really know, that a particular course is good or bad? Better or worse than a similar course? That a particular teacher is good or bad? That a particular course taught by a particular teacher at a partic...

• Bus Test, Embarrassment Test, Pride Test, Student Engagement Test, ...
  published on 2007-12-10 12:49:00-05:00
  Bus Test: If a teacher gets hit by a bus, can another smart and well-prepared teacher replace the first one and achieve similar learning outcomes with the students? Embarrassment Test: Do colleagues and/or students prefer ...

• Who would brag about courses passing "The Bus Test"?
  published on 2006-05-11 12:21:00-04:00
  Suppose an institution could say that all the courses were so 'well-designed' that they could pass the "bus test." Would that be something to brag about? I think it might be rather embarrassing to acknowledge that all of our...

• Modest Proposal: "7 Principles for Fair and Effective Student Evaluation of Teaching" - Tom Angelo 4-28-2006
  published on 2007-12-01 13:45:00-05:00
  "... proposal... that the key leaders in the field ... issue a short, simply worded, research-based manifesto on student evaluation of teaching -- supplemented by a few very clear suggested guidelines. ...'7 Principles for Fa...

• Evaluation of teaching NOT a priority for any professional organization! - Trav Johnson 5-1-2006
  published on 2006-05-11 14:05:00-04:00
  "... general evaluation of teaching is not a priority for any professional organization. ... Having an organization whose primary focus is evaluating teaching ... would be an important step in promoting and legitimizing the...

• "Principles for good evaluation will always be threatening" - Mike Theall 5-1-2006
  published on 2006-05-11 13:53:00-04:00
  "... 1) there has been no major organizational backing for published evaluation principles; 2) there has not been coverage of evaluation issues the equivalent of the press surrounding C & G's publication of their principles; ...

• "Student Engagement Test"? - Trav Johnson 4-28-2006
  published on 2006-05-11 13:33:00-04:00
  "... my suggestion is that we think of a 'student engagement' test. We want students to do what it takes for them to learn significant concepts, skills, etc.; so the focus of evaluation is on course designs and instructors th...

• Ratings Drop as Consequence of Shift in Course Design Toward Active Learning? - Steve Ehrmann 4-28-2006
  published on 2006-05-11 13:28:00-04:00
  "... I've heard this story many times before: instructor shifts to a design that involves more active learning, collaboration, and student responsibility. Instructor ratings drop, sometimes to a career threatening degree."   Fro...

• Validity & Reliability of Student Course Ratings - M. Theall 4/28/2006
  published on 2006-05-11 13:23:00-04:00
  "... a good (i.e., a comprehensive) eval system will have the capability and the mandate to further explore both the bus hits and the embarrassments."  From: Mike Theall Date: Apr 28 2006 - 7:43am 
  I have three internal reports ...

• Text Chat That Started It All - Excerpts: Bus Test vs. Embarrassment Test, etc.. [ vs. Hurricane Katrina Test]
  published on 2006-05-11 13:01:00-04:00
  Several of us began discussing these issues toward the end of our first synchronous session in the TLT Group's online workshop "Student Course Evaluations -- from Paper to On-Line: Issues, Questions, and Some Answers" April ...

• Embarrassment Test AND Pride Test?
  published on 2006-05-11 12:29:00-04:00
  Could the real test we're looking for be a combination of the "embarrassment test" and the "pride test"? If lots of people would be happy that the bus hit the teacher, then that course/etc. is bad. If lots of people would be...