Shows that requiring students to evaluate the business communication course in a memo to the teacher gives students writing practice while ensuring total feedback about the course from all the students. (RL)

Proposes that deficiencies in instruction exist in higher education. Discusses the trend toward simplified evaluation check lists that do not permit students to make constructive comments. Describes a set of information given to students at the beginning of a course to promote more student involvement. (TW)

Describes a system, Infracom, which enables students to influence content and structure in introductory college level sociology courses. Infracom involves writing evaluations of class meetings, making comments in class, and helping determine learning aids. (Author/DB)

This article argues that intellectual excitement and interpersonal rapport are important qualities that influence teaching effectiveness. It proposes a model of effective college teaching based on these qualities that utilizes a 39-item checklist evaluation form. The form was tested with students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill…

Describes an exercise designed to introduce basic concepts and techniques for a course in qualitative research methods. Discusses differences in the meaning of phrases on a student evaluation of teaching form. Suggests that the exercise will show how differences in meaning are connected to real social and political problems. (DK)

This paper was written in response to the Idaho Teacher Excellence Program (part of the Idaho School Improvement Act of 1984) to assist districts in developing teacher appraisal programs. Central to effective teacher appraisal systems is a clearly defined purpose, i.e., the improvement of instruction. The system used should distinguish between…

A study investigated whether Biglan clusters of academic disciplines (hard/soft, pure/applied, life/nonlife) could be used to explain disciplinary differences in college student ratings of instruction. It was found that Biglan clusters do not explain the differences, many disciplines still emphasize knowledge acquisition over higher-order skills,…

By using injured students to observe and record data, physical educators can get regular, ongoing feedback about their teaching effectiveness and allow injured students to participate in class from the sidelines. The article explains how to work with student recorders, offering a sample student recorder data collection form. (SM)

Describing the various forms evaluation can take, this book delineates problems in evaluating writing faculty and sets the stage for reconsidering the entire process to produce a fair, equitable, and appropriate system. The book discusses evaluation through real-life examples: evaluation of writing faculty by literature faculty, student…

Contends that appropriately designed questions are essential tools in disciplining students' thoughts and reasoning ability. Discusses classroom techniques for using questioning strategies in an interdisciplinary humanities seminar. Includes questioning scenarios for seeking information, interpretation, and speculation/hypothesizing. (CFR)

Summarizes five research projects concerned with the education of artistically talented students. Projects include interviews, surveys, case studies, comparative studies, and a drawing ability test. Concludes with a look at future directions for research. (MJP)

The evaluation of teaching by the use of self-assessment, fellow specialists, and students is discussed. The use of questionnaires, videotapes, tape recordings, checklists, and suggestion boxes are described. Examples of evaluation-form statements are included. (KR)

Discusses a report in which eight dyslexic, eight mentally disabled, and eight normal readers were asked to rank nine qualities both of their classroom teacher and of an ideal teacher. Discovers that comparisons of ideal and actual teacher ratings within each group demonstrated significant concordance for the normal and disabled groups, but not…

Describes students' views on how teaching methods could be improved. Suggestions for teachers include deemphasizing errors, providing a pleasant atmosphere, showing enjoyment, bringing in humor, admitting mistakes, giving homework, and letting students talk. (SRT)

Reports survey results of 126 students enrolled in first- or second-year biology courses concerning the effectiveness of different teaching methods within the lecture format. Indicates that the traditional, didactic lecture, although perceived as least effective, was regarded as highly effective when enhanced by active student involvement.…