Student Evaluations Raising Scores, Understanding Departmental Usage Maureen Goggin, Judith Van, Zachary Waggoner

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores One: For most class periods provide Handout BB post Blog entry other digital or textual sources

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Two: Remember, our students are not like us. They are NOT English graduate students. Make your pedagogical rationales visible. (What’s in it for them? How will the lesson or course help them succeed?)

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Three: Give students time to work on projects in class or online. Provide time guidelines (7, 10, 20 minutes). Group work (sharing ideas and strategies) Guided invention prompts

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Four: Prepare timed, interactive group work online and in the traditional classroom. Mini oral and written presentations Impromptu peer review opportunities Most students respond positively.

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Five: Create student centered class activities and assignments. Become literate in the texts of their lives. Update assignments and textbooks

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Six: Seek student opinions of each writing project after collecting final drafts. Give the option of anonymity. Helps instructor refine assignments--know where to add/change materials/delivery.

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Seven: Actively prepare students for evaluations At mid-term, hand our the Writing Program Mission statement. Have students read and underline items, and relate them to specific assignments or exercises from your course. Just before the end of the term but before evaluations, go over this again. Reflective writing activities also help.

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Eight: Offer students a re-write of at least one assignment per term. This gives the student an opportunity to improve their grade, and often improves their attitude regarding the course.

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Nine: Repeatedly encourage students to contact you by or to visit your office with questions. Your availability encourages students and makes you appear more vitally engaged in their success.

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Ten: Encourage community within the classroom Ask students to pair up for academic success Create ongoing academic success groups Ask groups to exchange phone numbers and addresses so they can trade information

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Eleven: Give a syllabus quiz at the beginning of the course Reinforce guidelines of the course

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores Twelve: Three reminders for a happy classroom Be friendly Don’t lose your temper Remember all their names

Twelve Ideas for Improving Student Evaluation Scores View course evaluations as a teaching tool—not something to fear. Benefits: Keeps pedagogy sharp Provides support material for self evaluations Provides support material if applying for other jobs. Presented at ASU Composition Conference, spring 2010