13: A Comparison of Faculty and Student Perspectives on Course Evaluation Terminology

Students completed a questionnaire on the meanings of several terms commonly used in narrative course evaluation forms, and instructors completed a similar form asking them what they believed students meant by these same words. Both groups produced complex and multifaceted definitions for the terms “not fair,” “professional,” “not organized,” “challenging,” and “not respectful.” Instructors were frequently incorrect in inferring common student definitions. If instructors misjudge students' meanings, how useful are evaluation forms for evaluative or developmental purposes? Faculty peer review of class meetings and course materials can help provide the necessary filter for interpreting evaluation comments.