Dr. Crews: That sounds like a very effective way of reinforcing feedback. How do you do that with 60 students who turn in 120 assignments a week when the university gives you 72 hours to get grades in? Single out a few students each grading cycle? Starting with the best or the poorest students, or a random selection?
In my opinion the most comprehensive feedback comes from student evaluations - but only if the evaluations are prepared properly (well written), the students are informed that their responses will make a difference in the preparation of future classes, and enough students provide a meaningful response. If this is not the case than I would argue that peer evaluations would be most effective in helping to close the loop.
Jeanne,
I'm glad the course content was helpful. I agree, we need to take the time to share with each other more often. Keep up the good work.
Diana and Charles,
It's good to see that several of us may have the same experiences. Allowing the reworking of the assignments provides for flexibility. Thanks!
Lindsey,
Great. When you get a variety of feedback. you'll get different perspectives on what you are doing or the course layout/content/etc. Keep reviewing the feedback and take it seriously. Thanks!
I really liked the Question Tools; clear and muddy points essays, and the 1 minute question.
I also feel that the portfolio assessment is something that is very applicable to one of the f2f courses I am currently teaching. I would love to be able to work it into an online course. The students I work with are particularly "hands on" oriented.
Lastly, while a bit daunting, peer review seems like a good evaluation tool. Sharing ideas, expertise, and information is likely to improve outcomes. Hmmm, wonder why we, as a profession, don't do more of it?
Yes, Charles. I have the same experience. I find I make the same suggestions to the same students, using the rubric, conversations in Chat, and in my email messages to them. I even allow reworking of assignments on occasion.
My institution allows us to receive feedback in multiple ways. We do a self evaluation ever session, In addition, we are assessed by our students, our faculty adviser, and the university academic quality analyst who ensures we are using the technology in an appropriate way and meeting the course expectations. Receiving feedback from multiple sources is an excellent way to close the loop and online education provides a unique opportunity for this. In my face to face classes I only receive student feedback and had one summer course where all students said was "crammed a whole course into fewer weeks!" which is, of course, what summer courses do and didn't give me useful information as to how to improve. Having other types of feedback would have been useful!
Brandon,
Glad it was helpful. Try it out and see how it works for you. Thanks.
I really liked this "Concept Maps" technique. I hadn't heard of that before but I think I'll do some research and figure out a way to work it into my teaching in the future.
I really like the visual techniques, and in my mind any technique that addresses relationships between concepts and information is very important.
I want to know that my students understand the piece parts, but in the context of the whole. It seems to me concept mapping is a great way to measure that.
carol,
Being in several online courses gives you great insight on what should be in an online course. You input is essential. Thank you.
ANN,
You are so right. A combination of evaluations is essential. Keep up the good work.
As of yet, I have not developed an online course. I've been in several, but not developed one of my own. But I suppose that it wouldn't be much different than a face-to-face course. The two evaluations I value most is student feedback and peer evaluation. I try hard (not always successful) to form a relationship that allows students to be straightforward in their responses to me and reassure them that I want to know what works and what doesn't work in the course. Only on a couple of occasions has this brought brutal feedback. Most comments are honest feedback and I've used them to adjust the course. Also, I read in this course that peer evaluation is possible online by allowing full access to a colleague. I tend to think this would provide valuable information on clarity, continuity, and credibility of the course information. By that I don't mean if the information is correct...but rather if the information is relevant to the objectives of the course. a colleague would provide valuable information.
The feedback that I feel would be beneficial would be Student Evaluations, Syllabus Scan, grades and self evaluation. I would hope with the combined data I would be able to tweak my feedback, course outline to reflect the observations reported.
Frank,
Staying open minded is perfect for any learning environment. Way to go.
Frank,
I use self-evaluation often in my classes, but incorporate peer evaluation also. Variety is the spice of life. :-)
Hi William,
I could not agree with you more about checking my ego at the door. I think that self-evaluation of a course could be a very effective methodology if the instructor stays open minded during the process.
Frank Nolan
In my opinion when looking at the different types of evaluation the one that I believe would provide the most comprehensive feedback that would allow me to close the loop would be a thorough self-evaluation. Using the self-evaluation method would be my best choice since I know all of the inner workings of the course very intimately and would be in the best postion to see where improvements could be made even if only only minor improvment were needed. Of course I would need to make sure that I was very open minded during the process.
Frank Nolan
I think student feedback is of paramount importance. We must be discerning when receiving it, for sure. But it's an excellent way to better understand if our intentions had the impact that we desired. And that is of tremendous value when attempting to close the loop.
Garry,
Thanks for continuing the conversation with William and adding important information.
