Here are the questions covered on this page:

1. How can the evaluations be anonymous if I have to login?
2. What If I forgot my login and/or password?
3. Do I have to do the evaluations on campus?
4. What is the purpose of the online student-rating system?
5. How will the confidentiality of my responses be maintained?
6. What have other students said about using an online student-rating system?
7. How can the online student ratings be used to improve teaching?
8. Can students see the results?

1. How can the evaluations be confidential if I have to login?

   Online Course Evaluations has been specifically designed to fully comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. All student login data is kept separate from their evaluation responses. In no way can a student be identified by their survey, unless they choose to put their name in a typed comment. [TOP]

2. What If I forgot my login and/or password?

   There is a telephone number of your evaluation coordinator on your school's login page. Just give them a call or write them an email. They will be happy to respond. There is a link from the login screen for this feature. [TOP]

3. Do I have to do the evaluations on campus?

   No, you can access the evaluations via the Internet from anywhere in the world. The program has been tested with PCs and Macintosh products, and browsers from Netscape, Internet Explorer and AOL. [TOP]

4. What is the purpose of the online student-rating system?

   In general, the purposes of the online student-rating system are the same as a paper-pencil system you may have used in the past. Student-rating results are use by faculty and administrators at all levels of the university (course, program, department, college, central administration) to make improvement and accountability decisions:
   
   1. Student ratings provide faculty with feedback from students on their teaching. Student ratings help faculty identify the strengths and weaknesses of a course. Through student comments, instructors will have the ability to take corrective action to improve a course.
   
   2. Student ratings provide information that departments, colleges, and university administrators use for evaluating faculty and courses. Student-rating results may be used for decisions regarding faculty promotion and continuing status. Results may also be used for decisions about courses, programs, and faculty assignments. In addressing these purposes, the online student-rating system has many advantages over the current paper-pencil system. These advantages are outlined under the subsequent questions.[TOP]

5. How will the confidentiality of my responses be maintained?

   Student response data is grouped together for the entire class, before being released to faculty members. No identifying information will be linked to data on reports (unless individual students choose to identify themselves in their open-ended comments). Identification of respondents will be encrypted when the data is stored. [TOP]

6. What have other students said about using an online student-rating system?

   Many students said they liked the online system because it was efficient, convenient, and easy to use. They also mentioned advantages such as: saves class time; anonymity of responses; not rushed, more time to consider answers; typing responses is easier and takes less time; students are more apt to write comments online; students who miss class can still respond; saves paper; more space to write comments; all instructors can be evaluated, even if they don't pass out the forms; and typed comments are easier for faculty to read. [TOP]

7. How can the online student ratings be used to improve teaching?

   The online student-rating form is designed to give instructors feedback on important areas of teaching and learning. Furthermore, the customized items provide the opportunity to receive specific feedback targeted at areas that are unique to an individual course or instructor. Results from both the standard and customized items may be combined with other information sources and methods (e.g., peer reviews, student/class interviews, mid-course student feedback) to give a more complete and accurate picture of teaching. It is important to keep track of feedback on teaching over time to better understand patterns and the influence of contextual variables in teaching. Research has shown that teaching improvement is greatly enhanced when instructors discuss student-rating results with a colleague or faculty development consultant. Teaching can also be enhanced by utilizing the links to online resources that will be provided with the online-student-rating reports. [TOP]

8. Can students see the results?

   Your school may choose to release the results of the student feedback. Students would know this when they login during an evaluation period and see a menu option of "see results of surveys". If your school doesn't and you would like them to, feel free to contact your evaluation administrator and give them your opinion. [TOP]