Many instructors seek information regarding effective strategies on interpreting and applying SEL survey results in ways that are constructive for teaching development. Analysis and interpretation of teaching effectiveness is particularly critical to documentation for P & T and contract renewals, especially in spring and summer as yearly reports and documents for promotion/retention are being developed and submitted.
We offer guidance for instructors to effectively use student feedback, based on the following assumptions about the SEL:
1. The SEL is designed differently than previous course evaluations. Rather than asking students to give opinions on course elements and instructor methods, the SEL asks students to comment on what they found effective for their own learning and to reflect on what they did individually to promote it. The SEL also ask students about their overall endorsement of a course and instructor by asking them if they recommend this course/instructor to other students.
2. Because the primary questions are qualitative vs quantitive, and the intention is for self-comparison over time, instructors do not need a specified number of responses to draw useful information from student comments. We encourage instructors to look for patterns or themes to underscore how strongly groups of students may feel about a course element; however, instructors may glean meaningful insights from just one or a few comments.
3. The use of numerical ratings for inter-instructor comparisons was never a robust nor equitable method among instructors. Best practices suggest intra-instructor changes over time along with student comments is a stronger method of demonstrating continuous improvement and instructor responsiveness to students' needs. As a result, the SEL was designed for self-comparison of student feedback over time, with intention of showing trends toward greater positive feedback and endorsements of learning methods applied, as well as the rate of student endorsements/recommendations.
4. SEL student feedback should be one part of a “portfolio” of teaching documentation that includes peer review, teaching philosophy and reflection, etc.
Review the linked recommendations for synthesizing the results of your SEL surveys
