Closing the Assessment Loop

1. Closing the Assessment Loop Be insatiable in learning; be tireless in teaching. Andong He Oct 20th, 2009 Be insatiable in learning; be tireless in teaching. Confusius (551 B.C－479 B.C)

2. Types of assessment • Feedback from peers and faculties, who visit your class. • Day-to-day feedback.(email, in-class issues). • Student evaluation (mid & end-semester, in written form; obtain from Becky). • course evaluation (textbook, exams, lectures…) • instructor evaluation (clearness of explanation, class preparation, availability for help, ability to maintain interest…) • Online material: (http://www.ratemyprofessors.com)

3. What is the assessment loop?

4. Class pace Discussion: • …the explanations could have been much clearer, and every step should be explained… • X sometimes skips steps and it is unclear how X came to an answer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ • It was sometimes difficult to follow because a few students shouldn’t have been in the class; we had to stop many times and it was distracting; How do I know the class is going too fast, or too slow?

5. Notes taking Discussion: • the material was presented in the same way each day, but there is not much else you can do with math. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ • …the instructor stays with the routine every class which was good. How much should I write on the black board? V.S. How much should I speak?

6. Use of textbook Discussion: • take all the stuff the instructor puts on the board from the book; a lot of note taking, not necessarily all useful though. • the text is confusing the doesn’t really fully explain what we are learning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ • I think the text and solutions book are helpful assets to what X teaches in class… How much notes should be from textbook and how much should be from outside?

7. Accent • …difficult to understand, because of thick accent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ • It was hard at first to understand X’s accent, but X was very passionate about his work! • …slight language barrier but he was very good at teaching.

8. These we should continue • …always have a lesson plan and didn’t steer away from syllabus which was nice. • X was extremely patient which I think is important for a Math instructor. • X’s examples are clear and consistent with the quizzes. • X is interesting/motivating/nice and encouraging; X is always prepared. Discussion: How to motivate students? (for example, come to class…)

9. Those we can improve • … I felt that X sometimes looked down on some students when they asked questions. • …seemed reluctant and unwilling to teach class. • X doesn’t seem willing to help; always busy every time I go to X’s office. • X has very limited office hours/ .. I can’t find X in office hours. Discussion: • … the instructor needs to keep class quieter.

10. Interlude - what can i say? • X is extremely nice and helpful; but X can’t motivate me because I hate math. • Very well prepared and available to help, but it is impossible to maintain my interest in a math course! • Great course if you hate math. It was like a nostalgic journey to 9th grade – graphing, LCDs, and variables – oh my!

11. A few suggestions • Improve your weakest point first. • If you are a foreigner instructor, speak a little loudly. • Let the students know you actually read the evaluations. • Some evaluations could be extreme; don’t be overwhelmed!

12. Not always bad news • X is pretty much the best instructor I’ve ever had. X is an amazing lecturer, X keeps everyone attention and is super helpful. X is also very funny. X knows everyone’s name. • I absolutely love how much passion X has at what X does. X is freaking adorable! and I definitely would have dated X if X was an undergrad with me! • X was very clear in explanations and always available for help. I really don’t like math but X made it bearable.

13. My favorite one • …X motivates me to be a better person and to strive to always do my best. Is there anything more important in education?