WIP: Teaching Evaluations for Teaching Improvements

This work-in-progress paper seeks to determine if a new multi-measure approach to teaching evaluations can be a means to lead to teaching improvements. A trial teaching evaluation consisting of new forms for student feedback, peer review, and self-reflection was implemented in the department of Civil Engineering. The new evaluation, developed by the University's Task Force to Enhance Learning and Teaching (TFELT), has the overall goal that teaching is 1) Welcoming and Collaborative, 2) Empowering and Supportive, 3) Structured and Intentional, and 4) Relevant and Engaging. By focusing on these 4 pillars of inclusive and effective teaching we seek to improve student outcomes by maximizing student engagement and learning. This paper will present the new evaluation measures and the rationale behind them. In addition, a faculty focus group shares their perceptions on the benefits and challenges of the evaluation measures and how the measures may allow them to improve their teaching. Future work will include the faculty member's reflections on how the evaluation measured impacted their teaching. This lightning talk will focus on the implementation and feedback from faculty and students on the new evaluation measures.