Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research
Consultation Services
- Mid-Course Online Survey
- Midcourse Class Interview
- Teaching Portfolios
- Instructional Technologies
- General Consulting
Mid-Course Online Survey
The Midcourse Online Survey is a non-evaluative, whole-class reviewing technique. Typically, the process is conducted at or before the mid-point of a semester course. The purpose of this method is to give the instructor a view of the course from the students' perspective, and to give the instructor an opportunity to respond to the students' comments and concerns.
The entire process begins at the request of the instructor. By going to the Midcourse Online Survey the instructor can register to create a website address that the instructor can make available to the class. This address will take the student to a short midcourse survey.
The survey contains five questions. A sample form can be found here, Sample Midcourse Online Survey Form.
Results of the survey are sent directly to the instructor. The Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research does not keep or analyze the results. Results can be delivered as an e-mail message, an html document (a web page sent for private viewing), or a text file suitable for use in a spreadsheet or database program.
Once the instructor reviews the comments, the instructor should open the next class meeting with a summary of the class' comments, share reactions to the comments and discusse possible changes in the course, if any.
Midcourse Class Interview
An alternative method for formative student feedback on teaching, is to arrange a Midcourse Class Interview. In this method, the instructor invites a colleague to act as a facilitator. The facilitator meets the class at a time chosen by the instructor.
When the facilitator comes to the classroom, the course instructor introduces the facilitator and leaves the class. The facilitator explains the procedure to the students, emphasizing that the instructor is interested in the students' comments, but that these comments will only be given to the instructor as anonymous comments and suggestions.
The instructor then leaves the room, and the facilitator takes over the class. The facilitator divides the class into small groups, four or five students to a group.
The facilitator then asks the students to answer the following questions:
- What do you like about the course?
- What do you think needs improvement?
- What suggestions do you have for bringing about these improvements?
After about ten minutes, each group reports to the facilitator on the group’s discussion and the consensus in their group. The facilitator records the consensus comments and asks for clarification when needed.
Next, the facilitator debriefs the course instructor on the students' comments and discusses responses to the points made by the students. At the next class meeting the course instructor opens the class with a summary of the class' comments, shares reactions to the comments and discusses possible changes in the course, if any. A follow-up conversation between the course instructor and facilitator is useful to measure the effectiveness of the intervention. OTEAR is happy to work with faculty or department administrators who would like to organize a Midcourse Class Interview process. Though we cannot provide facilitators for the Midcourse Class Interview, we can advise instructors and provide guidance for the facilitators.
Please contact Dr. Monica Devanas, Director of Teaching Evaluation and Faculty Development at the Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research, devanas@brokenmail.rutgers.edu please replace brokenmail with rutgers.edu, for further information.
Instructional Technologies
Instructors wishing to improve their use of resources available through computers, the internet, new media or courseware may contact the Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research for consultation on the effective use of the technologies as well as instruction on their use. In addition to consultation, the Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research offers a series of workshops on the basics of e-mail and creating web pages aimed at extending teaching beyond the classroom.
Instructors should contact Joseph Delaney, Instructional Technology Specialist, Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research, 932-7466, jpd@badaddress.rutgers.edu rutgers.edu for more information.
General Consulting
Instructors seeking general information about the improvement of teaching, or who are interested in discussing teaching issues of special concern to them, are invited to contact the Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research. Department heads interested in developing the use of teaching portfolios, methods of peer review, initiatives to improve teaching are also invited to contact the OTEAR. To make an appointment to meet with a OTEAR staff member, call 932-7466 or send a email message to otear@badaddress.rutgers.edu rutgers.edu.