Evaluating Teaching
The goal of course evaluaÂtion is to improve the quality of teaching on the basis of student feedÂback. Ideally, evaluaÂtion serves as the starting point for producÂtive diaÂlogue between teaching staff and students with the goal of developÂing common expecÂtations and possible improveÂment measures for teaching.
Course evaluations are impleÂmented at the TUM by the indiviÂdual schools and colleges on the basis of a centraÂlized evaluation Âsystem. A quality manageÂment represenÂtative at each school or college (a staff member of the student affairs office, an academic affairs officer, etc.) is responÂsible for the planning and implemenÂtation of evaluaÂtions in his or her unit. They deterÂmine the evaluaÂtion method to be used, carry out evaluaÂtions using the university’s EvaSys Âsoftware and analyze survey data and compile overall evaluaÂtion results.
The TUM Center for Study and Teaching supports the schools and colleges at every stage of the evaluation process, from the developÂment of questionÂnaires to impleÂmenting surveys through to the analysis of survey results. They provide assisÂtance, for example, in identifyÂing which factors will be evaluated, designÂing surveys to meet the requireÂments specific to your school or college, or communiÂcating ouÂtcomes to foster producÂtive dialogue. MoreÂover, they provide Âmanuals, Âsamples Âand Âguidelines for the design and implemenÂtation of evaluaÂtions.
Course evaluations should take place each semester after 2/3rds of the course has been compleÂted. The schools and colleges deterÂmine themÂselves how to select which courses are to be evaluated each semester. We recommend a random selection process by instrucÂtor name, in which at least one-third of the courses of all instrucÂtors teaching in the current semester is selected for evaluaÂtion. To ensure that probability remains constant, all instrucÂtors’ names should be placed in the selecÂtion pool each semester. All courses held by the selected instructors will be evaluaÂted. Instructors who are not selected but who wish to have their courses evaluated may do so volunÂtarily. The univerÂsity’s evaluation softÂware EvaSys is at their dispoÂsal for survey design and implemenÂtation.
Student feedback is, generally, gathered using hard-copy questionÂnaires. We recommend the use of questionÂnaires designed specifiÂcally for different types of course. These questionÂnaires are structured using standard question categories approÂpriate to the releÂvant course type.
Closed questionÂnaires are used in evaluations with more than 30 responÂdents, open questionÂnaires for those with less than 30. CST Quality Management has developed samples of both forms of questionÂnaire, which are available for use by the schools and colleges. These model questionÂnaires can be tailored to suit the individual requireÂments of the school or college.
Instructors are responÂsible for reporting survey results to their course particiÂpants. This can take place within the classÂroom in the form of a presentation and follow-up discussion. AlternaÂtively, the report of survey results can be uploaded in a secured site on the Intranet of the school or college (in accordance with Art. 10 of the Bavarian Higher EduÂcation Act). Students should be informed before the end of the lecture period about specific improveÂment measures planned by the instructor.