Student Evaluations

It's nearing the end of the fall semester and many of you will be asked to fill out evaluations of your professors and their classes. Unfortunately, most of your professors can't (or won't) bribe you to do this. And in fact, there is bountiful evidence that student evaluations are poor measures of student learning and professor effectiveness. Nonetheless, it's important to most of your professors that you complete them since these evaluations are used in tenure and promotion decisions. Given that, I'd like to say a few words about them. 

First, please offer constructive comments! Here are two examples of what that might look like (taken from past course evaluations for my public policy course): 

• "The best aspect of this course would be learning about real-world policy and learning the process of policy. I would also say being able to choose that specific policy allowing you to choose something that you are passionate about." 
• "Some of the assignments were confusing even after reading the material. Since it is an online class it would be helpful to have an example portfolio available so that students can see what is expected." 

Notice that both those comments offer specific details about what is helpful about the course or could be improved upon about the course. Because of these comments, I continue to allow students in that course to choose a specific policy that they want to work on for the semester, and I added an example portfolio for students to look at as they create their own own work. 
 
On the other hand, vague comments are not very helpful. For example: 

• "I would change the grading policy" 

How? What would be better? This comment may be valid, it's possible my grading policies aren't fair somehow, but it was not useful, because it doesn't allow me to adjust or improve for the future. 
 
Second, try to consider the language you use and what biases might be at work. Ask yourself if you have fair and realistic expectations from your professors, or if there are some expectations may have been operating unconsciously and influencing your perceptions of the class. Try to write your evaluations based on the course itself, not based on your feelings about the professor's attitude or likability - doing this will also help ensure that you are writing constructive comments. 
 
Your professors care about what you think and how their courses worked for you. Above all else, they care that you learn. So please take these evaluations seriously! Tell your professors (in a constructive way) if there are ways that they can help you learn more effectively or make the course work better for you. And tell them what you liked, what they shouldn't change, and what you'd want to see again!