Improving Instructional Delivery Through MidCourse Student Evaluations Asking Students How the Class

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Improving Instructional Delivery Through
Mid-Course Student Evaluations(Asking Students
How the Class Is Going)

• David A. Donathan, PhD
• Associate Professor of Management

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End of Course Evaluations

• Too Late to Help Current Students

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End of Course Evaluations

• Too Late to Help Current Students
• Usually Anonymous

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End of Course Evaluations

• Too Late to Help Current Students
• Usually Anonymous
• Anonymity Encourages Apathy

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End of Course Evaluations

• Too Late to Help Current Students
• Usually Anonymous
• Anonymity Encourages Apathy
• Customer Satisfaction Surveys

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End of Course Evaluations

• Too Late to Help Current Students
• Usually Anonymous
• Anonymity Encourages Apathy
• Customer Satisfaction Surveys
• Tend to Follow Distribution of Grades

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In-Class Evaluations

• Informal

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In-Class Evaluations

• Informal
• Quick Way To Identify Problems

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In-Class Evaluations

• Informal
• Quick Way To Identify Problems
• Easy to use

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In-Class Evaluations

• Informal
• Quick Way To Identify Problems
• Easy to use
• Allows Instructor To Quickly Modify Class
  According to Student Input

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Should Be

• Frequent (Not A 1-Time Event)

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Should Be

• Frequent (NOT A 1-Time Event)
• Regular Part of Course (NOT A Special Event)

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Should Be

• Frequent (NOT A 1-Time Event)
• Regular Part of Course (NOT A Special Event)
• Different Formats

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Example of Typical End of Course Evaluation

• Loooooong!

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Example of Typical End of Course Evaluation

• Loooooong!
• Verbose

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Example of Typical End of Course Evaluation

• Loooooong!
• Verbose
• Numeric

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Example of Typical End of Course Evaluation

• Loooooong!
• Verbose
• Numeric
• Ask Questions that are
• Irrelevant
• Inane
• Inappropriate

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Mid-Course Evaluations Can Be

• Easy to Administer

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Mid-Course Evaluations Can Be

• Easy to Administer
• Quick

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Mid-Course Evaluations Can Be

• Easy to Administer
• Quick
• Simple

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Examples of Mid-Course Evaluations

• 3 Questions
• The main thing we do in this class that helps me
  learn is
• The main thing we do in this class that keeps me
  from learning is
• The main thing we could do in this class which
  would help me learn is

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Examples of Mid-Course Evaluations (cont.)

• 1-Questions Prompts
• After __ weeks of class, I think..
• Write a short paragraph evaluating the pros and
  cons of this class.
• What do you think about this class so far?

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Examples of Mid-Course Evaluations (cont.)

• Add Prompt to Bottom of Quiz
•  
• MGT 300 Quiz (Chapter 8)
•  
• Part I (10 Minutes) - Turn to page 278 in the
  text. Read the experiential exercise and write
  BRIEF answers and justification (rationale) to
  questions 1 and 2.
•  
• Part II (15 Minutes) - Break into the following
  groups and develop a single group answer and
  justification (rationale) to the same questions.
•  
•  
• Dave, I have to tell you that, in this class, I
  (am having trouble with, have been helped by,
  etc.)

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Students Comments

• Helpful
• I like the discussions because the examples help
  me learn what we are talking about.

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Students Comments

• Helpful
• I like the group work and the notes on the
  board.

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Students Comments

• Helpful
• I dont like long lectures because I get sleepy!

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Students Comments

• Helpful
• I dont like how you write on the board instead
  of using Powerpoint or videos.

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Students Comments

• Not As Helpful
• I dont like writing 5 page papers.
• (There was no assigned paper in this course.

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Students Comments

• Not As Helpful
• I would like to get out of class early.

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Students Comments

• Not As Helpful
• I dont really know what I would like in the
  class.

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Students Comments

• And Sometimes, Theyre Just Confusing
• I would like to be motivated everyday to
  succeed.

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Points To Keep In Mind

• Be Ready For Criticism

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Points To Keep In Mind

• Be Ready For Criticism
• Be Ready To Make Changes In How You Are
  Presenting Material

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Points To Keep In Mind

• Be Ready For Criticism
• Be Ready To Make Changes In How You Are
  Presenting Material
• Quick Fix For One Specific Class ONLY

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Points To Keep In Mind

• Be Ready For Criticism
• Be Ready To Make Changes In How You Are
  Presenting Material
• Quick Fix For One Specific Class ONLY
• Food For Thought As You Prep For Other Classes

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??????
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• David Donathan (DDonathan_at_sccky.edu)