How Should We Measure Teaching Effectiveness?

How Should We Measure Teaching Effectiveness?

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are the most common tools for measuring instructor effectiveness. However, there is a large and growing literature documenting two of the major problems with SETs: Student evaluations of teaching demonstrate bias with respect to gender, race, and other factors unrelated to teaching and SET ratings don’t correlate strongly with student performance or student learning. These findings have motivated a national conversation about measurement of instructor effectiveness and the meaningfulness of statistical data collected from student evaluations.

This 20-Minute Mentor breaks down the topic of SETs into three parts. First, learn what studies have shown to be the problems with current SETs. Then, gain insights into why an effective solution for these problems is so important to faculty and your institution. Finally, receive actionable solutions and alternatives used from teaching and research institutions nationwide.

Learning Goals

After viewing this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, participants will be able to:

• Detail the most common and crucial issues with Student Evaluation of Teaching (SETs)
• Describe why a solution is essential for formative teaching and a fair process of promotion/merit
• Evaluate and implement appropriate alternative methods of evaluation

Topics Covered

• Problems with Student Evaluations of Teaching (SETs)
• Why solve these problems?
• Proposed solutions for measuring teaching effectiveness

 Audience

This program will benefit:

• Deans
• Department chairs
• Teaching professors

Product Code: OM20AD