TBers,
This was recently posted to the POD list and I thought you might find it interesting.
Jim G.
From: Professional & Organization Development Network in Higher Education [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jonathan Hunt
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 2:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [POD] Student Evaluation of Teachers and ESL Courses
Dear Michelle,
This isn't an answer; it's just an observation. By coincidence, I had a conversation about this with a group of international students on Thursday.
I showed them eval data from a previous class, where the aggregate responses to two key questions were as follows:
Were the assignments challenging? Answer: well below average for the institution.
Are you learning much in this class? Answer: well above average for the institution.
I asked how this could be possible -- wouldn't students learn more when working with challenging assignments?
No, no, they said. "Challenging" means an assignment that confusing or random; a frustrating assignment that doesn't make any sense or is inadequately explained. You can't learn anything from a challenging assignment.
In the course of our conversation, one student (a business major) observed, "Companies often collect information from customers in this way, and if they information is truly valuable to the company, they will make sure that the customer can understand the questions."
--Jonathan
On Sat, Nov 22, 2014 at 6:23 AM, Ronald Berk <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Dear Michelle,
You've raised a really important question. If your form will be used for employment decisions about your faculty, it's important that the translations are accurate so the ratings are valid. I suggest contacting ETS, the department that produces SIR II student ratings form. Given that their form is used nationwide and they have multiple language forms of tests such as the SAT, they would have experience with that issue. Steve Benton at IDEA might also have some strategies.
I hope that helps. Please let us know what you find. I'm sure there are other institutions that may benefit from your information.
Best regards,
Ron
Ronald A Berk, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Biostatistics & Measurement,
Former Assistant Dean for Teaching,
The Johns Hopkins University
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> Phone: 410-940-7118<tel:410-940-7118>
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________________________________
From: Professional & Organization Development Network in Higher Education [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] on behalf of Felix, Michelle [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 7:51 PM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Student Evaluation of Teachers and ESL Courses
Hi,
We are implementing a college-wide, standardized course evaluation for the first time in December. We have shared the instrument with the college in advance. Our instructors of ESL courses are worried about their students' abilities to understand the evaluation. The Level 5 students are likely to be able to manage it, but the earlier level ESL students will struggle. We tried google translate, and our ESL faculty found the translations to be very poor. Of course, each section of an ESL class can have multiple different native languages among its students.
What accommodations do your institutions provide to ESL departments if you use a college-wide, standardized course evaluation? Any suggestions?
Many thanks,
Michelle
Michelle Felix, PhD
English Instructor
ER&D Local Site Coordinator
Milwaukee Area Technical College
414.297.6142<tel:414.297.6142>
Faculty and staff, find valuable information and resources in the Teaching and Learning Community website. Log into the portal and select Departments; then scroll down to Teaching Learning Community.
[https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=4528e7fb0f&view=att&th=141f06b1e9e984f4&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_hn7mkjvm1&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P8y-5kc5WlY77mwemat8BF9&sadet=1382718866081&sads=4Xr7XF5dwSW7KWi11oHvhtZx-sY]
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--
Jonathan P. Hunt
Department of Rhetoric and Language
University of San Francisco
415.422.6685
https://www.facebook.com/rhetoricandlanguageUSF
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