What are the best practices for student course evaluation? Do they apply equally to classroom and on-line evaluations?  What should we keep in mind in order to develop and sustain reliable, valid, useful, and accepted evaluation systems?  Is one data collection approach superior to the other?  What are the characteristics and relative advantages and disadvantages of each?  What are the critical institutional considerations beyond the mechanical (i.e., the paper vs. electronic) question?  How can evaluation data from both sources be best used?

This series of workshops explores online student ratings within the larger context of faculty and course evaluation. Emphasis will be placed on best practices and how online student ratings fit into the larger institutional and research contexts. Participants will explore best practices in the use of student ratings and see examples of how these principles can be applied in practice. They will also have the opportunity to receive feedback on specific challenges or questions they have about student ratings at their institutions

Session 1—Best Practices in Student Ratings

·         Good practice in student ratings is (largely) independent of context

·         Good practice in ratings can not ignore context

·         Evaluation and assessment are similar, not the same, but both essential

Session 2—Online Student Ratings

·         Overview of online ratings use across the US & elsewhere

·         Some advantages of online student ratings (i.e., why people might be interested in implementing online student ratings)

·         Issues/challenges related to online student ratings and ways to address these challenges [We could collect issues to address beforehand from participants. Some possible issues are below.]

·         Successes—what is working well

Session 3—Uses of Student Rating Results and Related Considerations

·         Use of results for faculty and course development

·         Use of results for research on teaching and teaching improvement

·         Program and outcomes assessment, implications, and actions

All of the TLT Group’s online offerings include use of “low threshold” tools, examination of controversial issues, participants with a range of experience, and suggestions for assessment as you integrate what you’ve learned into your repertoire.