How are Evaluation Responses Treated ?
A trend of negative responses should trigger awareness that something may be wrong. This can be used to corroborate administrative evaluations of the instructor. The evaluation documents, however, must never be used as an instrument of fear and intimidation. They can be successfully used to alter teaching methodologies that might better conform to curricular goals.
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Often, student “comments” sections provide the richest feedback. If students universally hated a particular reading, it might be time to replace it. If the instructor did not employ technology or utilize on-line tools like Blackboard, instructors may wish to redesign instructional formats.
Updating Course Evaluations Regularly
Schools and institutions using the same evaluation tool from year to year fail to take into account changing student demographics. It is also a lazy way of advertising, “We have a system of end-of-course evaluations.” The evaluation document must be subject to yearly review by appropriate institutional committees in order to retain integrity and objectivity. Only then will the evaluation become a useful barometer for instructors and department heads.