Online Student Evaluations

by Jessica Loiacono

More than just a box to check off at the end of the semester, the student evaluation of instruction (SEI) is a critical feature for faculty looking to increase their ability to make a lasting impact on their students. During the last weeks of the term, the DDEC administers online student evaluation of instruction (SEI) for all distance courses. These anonymous evaluations are conducted outside of CourseDen, in CourseEval, and can be accessed online any time.

Specific results are shared with the instructor, the Chair, and the Dean. After grades are submitted, faculty are encouraged to complete the The Evaluation Summary for Distance Courses. This self-assessment asks that the faculty provide written documentation reflecting on their DE course evaluation results and how the students' feedback will be used for improvement. Aggregate results are made available online at DE Evaluation Documents.

Faculty and students are also encouraged to completed the Distance Education Survey. This is an evaluation of the UWG|Online and related departments on campus, services to distance faculty and students. This valuable feedback helps us make informed data-driven decisions to assist the University with it’s vision to be the best comprehensive university in America - sought after as the best place to work, learn, and succeed!

Increase Your Course Evaluation Response Rates!
Communication is essential to increasing your response rates. Email your students and let them know what these evaluations mean to you as an instructor and to the University. In your messages, you may consider adding the direct link for students to access their surveys. Students receive emails to their westga email address reminding them to complete the evaluations. UWG|Online also makes announcements on our Facebook and Twitter. Evaluations for the fall term open November 17th and can be completed through December 12th by midnight.

The University of California Berkeley’s Center for Teaching and Learning offers the following tips to help encourage your students:

• Inform students about the purpose of the evaluations - there are 2 surveys students receive, the course evaluation and the Distance Education survey. Let them know one survey is a reflection of your course and the other is about the services they received as a distance education student.
• Explain how the University uses the feedback they’ve provided - let students know you review your evaluations with your department chairs to make data-driven changes!
• Tell them how you will use their feedback - let students know how you will use their feedback to make appropriate changes to the course.
• Explain the kind of feedback that will be most helpful - Detailed, constructive, and, measurable feedback goes a long way to help make improvement.
• Remind students - students receive messages from UWG|Online, but consistent reminders from you, the instructor, makes a greater impact.
• Demonstrate how they can access their evaluations - consider creating a short video showing students where they can access their evaluations inside CourseDen or through the direct link.

Jessica Loiacono is the online learning innovation coordinator for UWG Online.