| Getting ready for that dreaded email
My least favorite email of the semester will soon be in my inbox- “Your course evaluations are now available on myDenison” (or something like that). Yes, I’ve been teaching for over thirty years, yet this email still causes a twinge in my stomach and a slight increase in my pulse. Academically, I know that course evaluations are important feedback to help me hone my craft, but human nature kicks in- did they like me?
As this semester comes to a close, I thought I would share a few resources that might help us get out in front of this gut-twinging email, or at least make it less twingy.
Let’s start with the big picture.
How should course evaluations be interpreted and used? This article by Angela Linse provides valuable insights on interpreting and using student ratings data effectively, particularly for those involved in administrative roles or tenure review processes. You may find this information helpful for understanding the broader context of how student evaluations are used in decision-making processes and for preparing for you own evaluation.
Okay, you’re almost ready to click on the link and start reading.
It’s always good to give “How to Read a Student Evaluation of Your Teaching” a quick look over beforehand or “Coping With Course Evaluations.” For something a bit more contemporary, check out this blog post How to read student evaluations constructively, which has audio if you’re a Substack user.
The BandAid is off!
Just like your student getting back their test, you’ve peeked! Much like we might recommend an exam wrapper to our students, why not consider this course evaluation wrapper from our friends at Duquesne? This wrapper can help you create a narrative around your teaching experiences and plan actionable steps for next semester.
We all get a few.
No matter how well we think things went, we all get the stingers. “Being in Ludwig’s presence for more than 30 seconds made me angry.” I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea- ouch! For those, I suggest this article, “How to Make the Best of Bad Course Evaluations,” and chocolate. Lots of chocolate. |
