10
Wednesday, November 30, 1977
University Daily Kansan
New process to rate teaching effectiveness
A new evaluation process began yesterday that is designed to allow students to appraise an instructor and give the input they want. Students develop efficiency against other instructors.
Phil McKnight, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, said yesterday that about 500 of 900 randomly selected KU instructors had agreed to administer the survey, called the Norms Study, to their classes. He asked his hopes for the survey to be administered the survey because a bigger response would make the study more valid.
The evaluations ask students to rate an instructor's performance on a scale ranging from 1 to 5.
NURTIGHT SAID the questions used in the Norms Study were the same as the questions used in the Curriculum and Instruction Survey results were published for students through the spring semester of 1974 in a booklet titled "Feedback." He said the University stopped publishing the booklet because it did not justify the money spent to publish it.
However, the reason for another survey was to make the method more random.
McKnight said, "The problem with the Curriculum and Instruction Survey was that instructors administered it voluntarily. We wanted to ensure that our University instructors gave the survey. Therefore, we usually got results from only the most outstanding teachers. That is unfair because when the results were made out of only good teachers."
INSTRUCTORS TO BE evaluated for the Norms Study were selected randomly by a computer. McKnight said because the course was offered at University curriculum was represented.
"We wanted a survey that would give a sample of courses that really represented what the whole group is," he said. "If you are careful in the way the classes are
selected, then you can say the sample stands for the whole group."
After the instructors were selected,
Mnight said, they were consent formal.
Some of the instructors refused to administer the survey.
EVEN THROUGH the 500 instructors who agreed to administer the survey were volunteers, McKnight said the random selection made the survey more representative than the Curriculum and Instruction Survey.
"Some say the survey does not measure achievement but only student satisfaction, which isn't important. However, the idea of student satisfaction is very important. I think that achievement and student satisfaction go hand in hand," McKnight said.
Another good reason for the study, McKnight said, was for proof of merit that the University Committee on Promotion and Tenure requires when an instructor is considered for promotion. Many instructors use the survey as proof of merit, he said.
MCKNIGHT SAID instructors should finish the survey by Dec. 23 so that computers could process individual results before the spring semester begins.
McKnight said individual evaluations will kept confidential and shown only to the teachers.
McKnight said an overall mean of all instructors surveyed would be published during the spring semester. Also published will be a breakdown into categories such as assistant, associate and full professors, required and non-required courses and class
"This survey should give the teachers information to help them improve their courses and help all the instructors in an overall evaluation process," McKnight said.
Ceremony set for today
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the KU Medical Center's new radiation therapy center will be held at 3 p.m. today in Kansas City, Kan.
The building is to be constructed on Rainbow Boulevard, between the Student Union and Spencer Chapel. When completed, it will be the center for all radiation treatment, replacing other such facilities at the Med Center.
at the Med Center, said recently that most of the new building would be built underground, which would cut down on the cancer treatment equipment.
The $1.5 million building eventually will house three radiation therapy machines. The machines, valued at almost $2 million, will be used to treat cancer patients.
Construction of the 20,000-square-foot therapy center is supposed to be soon with completion scheduled for the summer of 1979.
SUA Indoor Rec. Table Tennis TOURNAMENT
Frank Zilm, director of facilities planning
Med Center officials, including David Waxman, acting executive vice chancellor, and Chancellor Archie Dykes, will oversee the ceremonies.
Announcements
"Today's screening of the Polish film 'Huba' has been cancelled because of a choice issue, and schedule for SLAV 588 (RTF 588) THE CHRISTIAN OF PLAND AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Sat., Dec. 3
10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Room 173 Robinson
50' Entry Fee
Play people of your own
ability. Beginners to experts
welcome.
sign-up in SUA office by Fri., Dec. 2
TOMORROW: There will be PARALEAL TRAINING INTERVIEWS all day in the Union's Governor's Room. The DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOCOLYMPHYS will sponsor James Davis of the University of Kansas and David DeMare of Processes in Juries: The Need for Theory" at 4 p.m. in the Union's Jahewkhan Room Kian Cheng Luang of the University of Nebraska will discuss "Massive Contact Systems (Close Binary Stars from 2 to 60 million years old)" at 4:30 p.m. in 332 Mahl Hall. ART EDUCATION CLUB will meet at 6 p.m. in the Union's Regionalist Room. SUA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the Union's Auditorium. KU SAILING CLUB will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Union's Parlors. SOUTHERN COALITION will sponsor a panel discussion on the international record in Homestead at 7:30 p.m. in the Union's Forum Room. KU BALLONNING CLUB will meet at 8 p.m. in the Union's Council Room.
-KANSAN--
On Campus
TODAY: OPCCATIONAL THERapy field instructors will meet at 9 a.m. in the Union's Council Room. Jeanne Stump, associate professor of art history, will present the FACULTY FORUM, "The Woman Artist: Trials and Triumphs, at Oral History for Women," 10:30 a.m. Oread ST. ACCOUNTING CLUB will meet at 4:30 p.m., in the Union's Council Room.
TONIGHT: Commission on the STATUS OF WOMEN will sponsor a pot luck dinner at 6:30, followed by a business meeting at 8:30. The Gymnasium will meet at 6:30 in the Union's Big Eight Room. Albert Gerken will perform a CARILON RECITAL at 7. Bill Evans, DANCER-IN-RESIDENCE at 8:30 in the Robinson Gymnasium dance at 7:30 in the Robinson Gymnasium舞画室. Carl Leban, associate professor of East Asian studies, will read and discuss his TRANSLATION OF WU TSU-ZIHANGS "A Tonicus-Anku" at 8 in the Walnut Room.
Place a Kansan want ad. Call 864-4358.
Events
ANNUAL PRE-X-MAS SAVINGS NOV. 28 - DEC. 3
15% to 75% Savings With 100% of Britches Quality and Service
3. Free Parking
1. Free Alterations
2. Free Gift Wrap
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