I find the combination of administrative and student feedback is best in allowing me to close the loop. Both provide feedback on what is going well and what can be improved upon. It also helps to determine how I can improve on the feedback that I provide and also is a good way to measure the use of my rubrics.
Peer review by colleagues and student evaluations provide comprehensive feedback.
Peer review allows you to share ideas/tips/tricks with others teaching in the same field or in a similar course.
Student evaluations, while important, need to be taken with a grain of salt. Student evaluations allow you to get a feel for what worked and what didn't work so well. However, they cannot be the primary means of evaluation.
Gregory,
That's a good point. With a never-ending cycle, the loop may be closed momentarily and then open again to keep the loop going. Thanks!
Hello,
Thanks for this question. Personally, I don't think I would ever completely "close the loop". After every class and even throughout the course, I ask students how things are going and how can I make learning a better experience. I also set weekly goals for myself as a self-evaluation tool. Until I get A's from every student, I believe that improvements can be made to enhance learning.
Gregory Becoat
Carl,
I agree. I like to get a broad spectrum full of feedback from various places. Anything we can do to improve our teaching and the learning process is great. Thanks!
Lyn ,
Right on! When we get student feedback it helps everyone involved. It's great the institutional effectiveness staff help provide you with good data. Thanks!
Multiple types of evaluation would provide me with the most comprehensive feedback that would allow me to close the loop.
Student feedback could tell me what worked and didn't work for students if it was not tainted by students attitudes about their course grade.
Colleague feedback would be helpful but would lack the in depth perspective that the long-term participation by students would have.
Student grades would let me know if the students were learning and how. Poor grades would indicate that things needed to be changed to improve grades. Good grades would indicate that many things were working.
Hi everyone,
As an instructor, student performance is feedback not only for them, but also for me. If students are doing well overall on an assignment, this is good because they are meeting outcomes. But, it could also mean that the content/ assessment tool is not challenging them and this could indicate revision is needed.
I also enjoy participating in periodic evaluations with fellow instructors in which we compare how our students are doing and often revise assignments/ course content as needed.
Our University provides many means for evaluating courses, and the Instititional Effectiveness staff compile data and it is provide back to administrators and instructors. Lyn H.
Elias,
Student evaluations provide us with valuable information. This will help us improve the course and improve learning overall. Thanks!
Student evaluations are clearly the richest source of information. The problem is always the degree of objectivity, depending on instructor style, difficulty of subject, and mere student performance.
If the assumptions about nontraditional students were to hold true (motivated, professional, etc), assessment would be much more objective.
Darlene,
The key is exactly what you said - when the rubric is introduced with the assignment. That helps students understand the expectations and work toward the learning outcomes. Thanks for your input.
Nizar and Craig,
We do learn so much from others. There are many subjects that use portfolios to have students show their progress. Thanks!
Nizar,
Right - when we utilize a variety of feedback methods, we get information to help us close the loop and provide for self-reflection. Thanks!
The most comprehensive for what I teach, English, would be using the rubric. It is specific, and when introduced with the assignment, as stated in this lesson, would provide excellent feedback.
Hi Craig,
I don't teach classes that use a portfolio, but being once married to an art and design major, I saw the true value of this concept. Upon graduation, you can show case your portfolio to potential companies. Actually, I believe it's expected. In the business world, we send resume, but in the art world, we send a portfolio, right?
Hi Dr. Crews,
I was taught in several research approach classes that when multiple sources converge on the same information, you can stop researching as most probably that's the fact. The same applies to evaluations I believe. We use student evaluations, peer-reviewed evaluations, and self-reflections. Among the three of these, we should reach a well-rounded result to close the loop.
Scott,
Good argument. It seems like I self-assess all the time too. But, don't be too critical on yourself. Take care.
Hello Dr. Crews,
I would argue that closing the loop needs to allow for a holistic view of achievement. To that end, I am a big believer in self assessment as I am my most harsh critic. Student evaluations provide me with the tools I need to improve my teaching. Finally, peer assessment is also helpful in certain situations, especially when the person evaluating me is someone I respect as an educator. It is difficult to pick just one because while I may be able to assess myself, the outside feedback provides me with information I may not have thought of or was unwilling to admit. It is always a good idea to challenge oneself within the profession and use the feedback tools that will allow me to become the best version of myself.
Scott Racek
Hello Dr. Crews,
You're welcome! Yes, you are 'right on spot'! A combination is key to a powerful and well rounded evaluation. Have a great day!
Best...
Dr. Sealey
Lisa,
Definitely. When students reflect upon their learning and self-evaluate, they learn more about themselves. Thanks!
