tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post5551566775469478431..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: If It's Tuesday, Hiram Must Be Baffled About His Student Evaluations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-25935168128022146142013-05-16T09:36:14.500-04:002013-05-16T09:36:14.500-04:00+1 for midterm evaluations. I do try to make one ...+1 for midterm evaluations. I do try to make one small change or offer up something different as a result of them. My end-of-quarter evals are better as a result of these midterm ones, and I learn more from the midterm ones.<br /><br />As to the shitty ones, I have lines from 20 years ago still ringing in my ears. Anonymity does not bring out the best in people. So my present to myself upon Frog and Toadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377542172335502858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-2469076037213696482013-05-15T14:43:55.776-04:002013-05-15T14:43:55.776-04:00I view my mid-semester evaluations as a formality ...I view my mid-semester evaluations as a formality for this very reason. They always end up cancelling each other out. And unless something really irks a majority of my students, I'm not going to change it because it probably works for me. <br /><br />Many mid-semester evaluations also read as "wish lists." "I wish we could do less reading." "I wish we could watch Gone Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17545285786616979495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-6445235426246985132013-05-15T13:26:34.165-04:002013-05-15T13:26:34.165-04:00When I do my own mid-semester evals, I always ask ...When I do my own mid-semester evals, I always ask (1) what has been done well, and (2) what can be done to improve. Almost every item that shows up as needing improvement is mentioned by someone else as being done well. Examples: more PowerPoint vs. less PowerPoint, lectures are great vs. lectures are boring, more discussion vs. less discussion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-54692639980637773322013-05-15T13:05:56.137-04:002013-05-15T13:05:56.137-04:00Thank you, Proffie. My chair wasn't concerned....Thank you, Proffie. My chair wasn't concerned. I've been part-timing here for awhile. When the bad days begin to outnumber the good ones is when I'll "retire."CrayonEaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10126396989880932207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-42082423278370382582013-05-15T11:54:27.102-04:002013-05-15T11:54:27.102-04:00You only got two bad evaluations for two entire cl...You only got two bad evaluations for two entire classes? I'd say that's something to be glad about. Only two sour grapes in two classes is just that--sour grapes. Besides, anyone who looked at those evaluations would dismiss them outright due to their extreme language--"hates students" and "doesn't care about his job"--etc. That's not the kind of evaluation Gone Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17545285786616979495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-56512092139376045212013-05-15T06:17:43.622-04:002013-05-15T06:17:43.622-04:00Dr. Colossus, you are hilarious!Dr. Colossus, you are hilarious!Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686242633678466958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-76571164535722368822013-05-15T02:09:13.917-04:002013-05-15T02:09:13.917-04:00In the past few years, I've come to view evals...In the past few years, I've come to view evals as a place where students either vent or praise outrageously. I discount both extreme comments (even the ones saying I'm the best prof they've ever had). I just don't believe their little fickle selves. The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-57388164324455839902013-05-15T01:14:07.946-04:002013-05-15T01:14:07.946-04:00Thanks, CC!Thanks, CC!The Naughty Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234624349205271144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-47921473452570658202013-05-14T23:54:54.478-04:002013-05-14T23:54:54.478-04:00What really sucks is when you get this 1/10, that&...What really sucks is when you get this 1/10, that's the one your faculty evaluation committee zones in on. Dr. Pythonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642960036498538195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-29486063690867681012013-05-14T22:57:00.862-04:002013-05-14T22:57:00.862-04:00Spot on, CC. But also, "does not care" i...Spot on, CC. But also, "does not care" is a catch phrase, a cliche' emotional reaction; captured in our questionnaires by "interest in whether students are learning", on a 0-5 scale (what's that supposed to mean?) It's like that other catch phrase "unreasonable expectations". They see it used once, it sounds good (and damning enough), so why not use it, Peter Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00754472537710161295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-54393614308122700232013-05-14T22:49:07.812-04:002013-05-14T22:49:07.812-04:00"Take-home point: some of your students are a...<i>"Take-home point: some of your students are a teaspoon shy of the Rubber Room."</i><br /><br />True. And it's not just the students.Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-32518449887720091202013-05-14T22:45:24.642-04:002013-05-14T22:45:24.642-04:00Oh lord, it's even worse than I thought. 9 sec...Oh lord, it's even worse than I thought. 9 seconds? That's barely enough time to walk in, pour a shot of bourbon, and announce "you all are nothing to me."Dr. Colossushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470085457331712203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-16937793536866489212013-05-14T22:41:18.991-04:002013-05-14T22:41:18.991-04:00CC, thank you for that link! Representative quote:...CC, thank you for that link! Representative quote:<br />"Those who dress informally are generally judged to be warmer and more approachable, but get the least amount of respect. Formal attire is associated with student ratings of confidence and intelligence."<br /><br />This is interesting. I dress semi-formally (dress shirts and jeans). On the first day, I don't strive to look &Peter Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00754472537710161295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-48612594373961163652013-05-14T22:24:51.936-04:002013-05-14T22:24:51.936-04:00Another possibility to consider (in addition or as...Another possibility to consider (in addition or as a variation on lack of full contact with reality, which strikes me, too, as a plausible explanation): our old friend projection. They don't really care (about the class, their educations, etc.), but they don't want to admit that to themselves, let alone anyone else, and so they complain that *you* don't care. <br /><br />Also, they&#Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-70012883462892571902013-05-14T22:19:32.131-04:002013-05-14T22:19:32.131-04:00I give out voluntary midterm surveys that I write ...I give out voluntary midterm surveys that I write myself, and if there's a complaint that seems reasonable I address it.<br /><br />But the student evaluations themselves--the way our U does it--are nothing but fodder to harass faculty with, with absolutely no value to improve teaching. They're done online, so even students who have effectively dropped the course can fill them out; U-widePeter Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00754472537710161295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-32727411149036552352013-05-14T22:15:17.042-04:002013-05-14T22:15:17.042-04:00Well, here's one link to a summary of some of ...Well, here's one link to a summary of some of the research (though I'm pretty sure this finding goes back further): http://faculty.clinton.edu/faculty/TeachingandLearningCenter/1st%20Impressions.aspx . Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-12390718789070373162013-05-14T20:11:24.728-04:002013-05-14T20:11:24.728-04:00Wise, wise advice. I hope I remember it next time ...Wise, wise advice. I hope I remember it next time I'm in Hiram's situation, because I've been there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02906546940408742913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-58069077677695820302013-05-14T20:09:13.982-04:002013-05-14T20:09:13.982-04:00Watch your back, CrayonEater, especially if you do...Watch your back, CrayonEater, especially if you don't have tenure. Get it on record at HA (with student witnesses) that you did complete the evals and submit them.<br /><br />This happened to me once at a former college, in the midst of a very nasty battle to get me fired so that the department chair could hire a friend who'd been on the short list. We faculty were prohibited from turningAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02906546940408742913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-5979247992588160042013-05-14T19:01:33.846-04:002013-05-14T19:01:33.846-04:00Hiram, let me tell you a story.
When I was an und...Hiram, let me tell you a story.<br /><br />When I was an undergrad, I got into a conversation with the comely young lady who sat next to me in my Freshman History class. She seemed nice and I was young and on the make, so when she asked if I'd like to walk her back to her dorm after class, I immediately agreed.<br /><br />On the way, this nice, polite, pretty young thing told me in great Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-47054166786976413202013-05-14T16:13:30.417-04:002013-05-14T16:13:30.417-04:00What study is this from? I've never heard of ...What study is this from? I've never heard of this. If it's true, which I doubt, perhaps students are just a good character of how good/bad a professor will be after hearing him/her speak for 60 seconds. I can usually size somebody up in less time than that myself. The Naughty Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234624349205271144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-3469051532594110162013-05-14T15:10:24.456-04:002013-05-14T15:10:24.456-04:00Oh Hiram, please, please don't let it get to y...Oh Hiram, please, please don't let it get to you. I know that's easier said than done, but fact is, when students don't do well due to a whole litany of reasons, the professor becomes the scapegoat. Always. I once overheard a student warning another "never, ever take Dr. XYZ's class, if he hates you he'll fail you." Dr. XYZ teaches a gen ed, 440 students/semester. HeBallisticNoterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04021484313463914340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-43311897984973292812013-05-14T11:38:37.728-04:002013-05-14T11:38:37.728-04:00This has never happened before. I did the evals a...This has never happened before. I did the evals at mid-semester like we were supposed to, following the protocol. They seem to have been lost by the Hamster Appreciation office.<br /><br />Damn! I can't join this latest litany of bitching. :(CrayonEaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10126396989880932207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-59757065043271186192013-05-14T11:04:41.278-04:002013-05-14T11:04:41.278-04:00I heard from someone that it has been proven WITH ...I heard from someone that it has been proven WITH SCIENCE that the vast majority of student impressions of a professor are made during the first 60 seconds of the first class. That is, you can have students fill out an eval after that first minute, and then at the end of that same class, and there's only slight variation between the numbers on those sheets.<br /><br />From one perspective, Dr. Colossushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470085457331712203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-83071002381379769252013-05-14T10:07:36.217-04:002013-05-14T10:07:36.217-04:00Here's what I do - pair each really negative r...Here's what I do - pair each really negative review with the most positive review. Set those two aside. Read the rest. If the group is good then you did great. I understand, it is easy to focus on the really negative reviews, but students have no clue what we do or why we do it. Bisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02025209722326662833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-1934860233398731272013-05-14T09:34:17.890-04:002013-05-14T09:34:17.890-04:00At my institution, course evals are done in the mi...At my institution, course evals are done in the middle of the course so they can be used as an active tool to correct problems instead of a complaining tool at the end of the course. Duh.<br /><br />That keeps most of the vitriol to a minimum since the person you're stabbing in the back still has a few months to get even, I mean, improve.<br /><br />But the odd time I get some nastiness thatCambridge0101https://www.blogger.com/profile/12153435765355501551noreply@blogger.com