Evaluating teaching

The NUI Galway policy QA221 Feedback on Modules and Programmes is available from the Policies & Procedures page.

It is good practice to routinely monitor courses and modules. Evaluation and feedback can provide useful information on the quality of content and delivery, students’ perceptions of these, and suggestions from students on how they feel their learning experience can be enhanced.

Seeking and acting on feedback can lead to a more rewarding experience for staff and students, promote student engagement and serve as useful evidence for the purposes of promotion and quality review. There are many ways of getting feedback and evaluation, and the best method will depend on the type of feedback you require and the resources available to you.

A short summary guide is available here: Evaluating Teaching Guide (pdf)

A couple of methods worth mentioning in more detail are outlined below.

Student Feedback Survey

CELT have developed a short questionnaire that can be used to obtain quick feedback on modules or courses. You may use the questionnaires in their present form or you are welcome to personalise them.  

Partnerships for Learning & Teaching (PLT) – Peer review and observation

Partnersips for Learning and Teaching are an effective and information method of receiving feedback on some aspect of your teaching practice, be it with respect to a lecture, practical session, or a review of materials or resources you provide.

Typically, an academic staff member will pair with a critical friend or peer who agrees to attend and review a teaching session of their choosing, and this is then reciprocated. 

The issues to be reviewed or observed are agreed in advance and then a final feedback discussion is held. Those who have previously used this approach have found it to be highly effective and a direct means of strengthening collegiality and a sense of mutual support in a non-threatening context.

Partners are often paired from separate disciplines as this can provide refreshing and alternative perspectives. However, it can also be advantageous to organise such within related cognate fields, particularly if the content of the teaching event under review is a major focus. The reported benefits are often focused on the value of observing another person’s approach to teaching, rather than simply having one’s own practice subject to scrutiny.

PLT Downloads

The protocol and associated forms are available for download here: Partnerships for learning & Teaching (PLT)

Grouped student/mid-semester evaluation Downloads

Review of Teaching Evaluation Methods Download: |  Review of Teaching Evaluation Methods Download pdf -225 KB|

Download Guide

Lecture Theatre

CELT has developed a short Evaluating Teaching Guide (pdf)

Advice

If you would like an individual consultation or advice, you are very welcome to contact either the Director or Assistant Director and an appointment can be booked via the CELT office.