University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, April 13. 1977
7
t?
ansan
Critics deal with Feedback flaws
Staff Reporter
In the first century B.C., Pubillus Syrus said, "it is a bad plan that admits of no one." That attitude may apply to Feedback, the study tool for survey at the University of Kansas.
By MISSY PETERSON
Designed in 1988 as a student evaluation of faculty instruction, Feedback has seen one change after another and the demand for improvement continues.
In its present form, Feedback consists of nine questions about an instructor's skills. The instructions asked to rate an instructor on a scale of one to exceptional performance, to five, which means improvement is definitely needed. A grade of one or better, a letter grade to the instructor and the class.
ACCORDING TO Phl McKnight, associate professor of curriculum and instruction, any survey has inherent drawbacks.
One of Feedback's drawbacks is that it tries to do to many things. I yawn Nelson, please. But you're not a person.
It was first designed to help students decide among possible courses by providing information on courses and instructors. The results of the Feedback surveys were compiled in a booklet. Each course and teacher received a numerical rating, an
Beer strike won't affect supply here
A strike by union employees of the Adolph Coors Co. in, Golden, Colo., won't affect local supplies of law, Lawrence bar owners and managers say.
Larry Bazzi, manager of the Jayhawk Cafe, 1340 Ohio St., said, "There was an initial lag in production but with the new equipment, the brewery, Coors is back in full production."
Bazzell he foresaw no shortage of Coors beer in this area.
The strike began last week when 1,500 workers walked off the job in Golden during a dispute about a new contract put into effect the company despite union rejection.
Bill Drelling, manager of Father's, 2408 Iowa St., agreed with Bazzell that there wouldn't be a shortage, and said, "My husband isn't even said anything about the strick."
Coors officials said that new employees would be hired this week to help the management and to aid the 460 workers who have returned to their jobs in the brewery.
The union requested a boycott by consumers of Coors beer beginning last Monday, after distributing information to bars and liquor outlets over the weekend.
Bazzell he didn't think his customers would boycott Coors beer.
Jerry Porsch, owner of the Clydesdale,
611 Vermont St. agreed.
"I don't think that the local drinkers will boycott Coors," he said. "The only way that the boycott could affect us would be if the company took to the up the railroads or something."
Porsch said his distributor hadn't placed any restrictions on beer orders.
"We're totally a student bar, no townies," he said. "I don't think that they will pay any money."
average of all the scores an instructor received from his students in each class.
more because of low ratings, Nelson said.
SALARY INCREASES also are partly determined by the teacher ratings, which often reflect the scores received by the teachers survived.
"There are teachers who aren't here any more because of low ratings." Nelson said.
Criticism of Feedback revolves around this aspect of the evaluation. Many think comparing the class mean with the actual score can help determine if determining who deserves recognition.
According to Charles Kahn, dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Design, the mean doesn't reflect the many variables that affect a student's perception of a course, such as class size or whether the course is required.
The "immediacy" of the evaluation also greatly affects the results, he said.
"Sure," one student said, "If we've just made an 'A' on something from a teacher,
There also are students who don't care who think the evaluations are ridiculous and misleading.
Many students give all their teachers one standard rating without considering what decisions rest on the evaluations, Nelson said.
As a member of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) subcommittee that prepared a report dealing with Feedback problems, Nelson is aware of the role that Feedback plays and the problems accompanying it.
An important aspect of the committee's report provided that due process be guaranteed to every instructor when a student is admitted in such matters as tenure and promotions.
AALP is committed to the protection of academic freedom and promises due respect to its students.
THE REPORT noted that Feedback results tended to be biased because not all
It is possible that only one-third of all KU instructors are ever evaluated in Feedback. Nelson said, and those who submit to feedback are more likely to be working toward tenure or promotion.
the instructors were required to administer them, and those that did seldom got 100 per cent.
Nelson said that because of this, most of the evaluated instructors made an effort to be good teachers, and the survey benefited from their teaching. How do we improve our teaching methods?
However, because it is often the better teachers who are evaluated, the University should not penalize those who perform
GEORGE WORTH, chairman of the English department, said he suspected that most of the instructors who needed to be evaluated didn't use Feedback. And some teachers present taking time out of class to give the survey, he said.
McKnight said this essentially meant those who were evaluated were compared with the best teachers, whose high ratings have boosted the mean.
Because of this, the AAPU subcommittee report has recommended that the University set aside a time outside the regular class periods when all students can evaluate all their courses, and that the University will not be by the University, not by the instructors.
The report also recommended
general guidance for interpretation
of Feedback result.
Nelson said the manual should point out certain factors about certain classes.
FOR EXAMPLE, if a class is very large, the teacher's availability will be limited. The manual should be designed to create an awareness of such cases.
The 14 students, from the Colonie metropolitan area, are spending three weeks in the Kansas City area to learn about American culture. They live with host American families and have attended high school and a local school district the past two weeks.
Nelson also said that the statistical flaws of Feedback programming should be corrected. The AAUP report recommended that standard deviation and margin-for-error calculations be included in the processing of Feedback results.
American customs confuse touring German students
One student said it was difficult to compare the American and German school systems, because she couldn't understand what was happening in the classes she attended. She said the Americans spoke too fast for her to understand them.
German high school students who toured the University of Kansas campus yesterday said they found some American customs confusing compared with customs of their
Because of the differences, American students are more free to travel and participate in social activities, the Germans said.
The 'students were surprised at the American families' practice of allowing their children frequent use of a car. In use, use of the family car is more restricted.
Several of the students also said age 16 should be too young to obtain a driver's license. Germans may not drive until they are 18.
Many of the students on the tour have limited knowledge of English.
During evenings, the Germans are entertained by their host families and participate in high school social activities. The students said they had been to movies, concerts, dances, bowling, the Worlds of Fun amusement park and area shopping centers.
Some of the students expressed disappointment that they couldn't go to a disco to dance. They weren't allowed to go to舞会 because dancing is popular in Germany, they said.
The German students said they thought it strange that Americans couldn't drink beer until age 18. Germans drink at a much earlier age, one student said.
The students' visit to the United States is sponsored by the Goethe Institute in Boston and the America House in Cologne, a cultural meeting club for Americans and Germans. Its purpose is to expose German students from family life, schools and entertainment.
While on campus, the visiting students toured the University Theatre, the Museum of Natural History, a sorority house and a scholarship hall. They were escorted by members of the German club and by students from KU German language classes.
Indian pow wow to be Saturday
Native American residents of McCollur Residence Hall will present a free "pow wow" for residence at Lewis Hall cafeteria. The pow wow, made possible by the funding and assistance of the Pearson Trust enrichment committee, will include an
Pow wows are traditional gatherings of Indians to dance and socialize, Lawrence Yellowish, Dallas sophomore and a pow wow coordinator, said recently.
The native American residents recently sponsored a display and film in McColm Hall, Yellowfish said, and the pow wow will be their last event this year.
Phoebe Snow
Washington Ash
Watsonbone Ash
Renaissance
Flying Burtifrio Bros.
Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Maryland Magneforce
Maryland Magneforce
The same sound alternative you enjoy on KJHJ FM8! can be of your own album collection. For two weeks beginning April 14, KJHJ will give away free albums to listeners from 6 PM to midnight. Mon, thru Sat. Available artists include:
Kris Kralferman
Kris Kralferman
Kansas
BED
Taylor Tanker
Miles Daw
Taylor Tanker
张杰
Jammer Hamm
Jammer Hamm
B.B. King
Weber and Rice
L.A. Express
Justin Hawley
Justin Johnson
Manhattan Transfer
Manhattan Transfer
Jansen
For all of the details, keep tuned to KJKH FM91.
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Small library fines go uncollected
Library finserve an important purpose,
even though they don't always get paid.
Unless a fine, or accumulated fines, total $1 or more, the business office of Watson Library won't take any action to collect the fine, according to Brenda Caffrey, a fines
If a student receives a 30-cent fine for returning a periodical an hour late, the library has no assurance that the fine will be paid.
But, according to Sarah Couch, periodicals and reading room supervisor, notices of fines are an important way to curb the use of the library's library books on returning material.
"People won't pay attention to when the magazine is due and assume that they can keep it for 24 hours or for three days," Couch said.
The periodical and reserve reading rooms charge 30 cents for the first hour something
J. Watson's April 11-15
TONITE IS LADIES' NIGHT.
U 50c cover–Disco
T U "The Best of Ernie Kovacs" 8:30
E "Puebla" 10:30
Free Disc for Everyone
on our 7' TV--*Star Trek* 7:30'
The Amazing Howard Hughes
14' Part: 8:00"    10:30
50c Disco—"Howard Hughes"—conclusion. "KOJAK"—10:30 in the Peanut Gallery
F Live Music—Cover $2.00 Poor
R Willy 9-12, also "Paint Your
I Wagon" 7:00
Live Music—Cover $2.00
Live Music--Cover $22.00
S Flash & Glitter w/ Lisson
A Playful, Dame Come
T watch the show 9-12.
Peanut Gallery free from 12-7 p.m.
SUN Peanut Gallery? TV Free from 1月 p. to 10. Come watch the doubleheader—KC Royals vs. Seattle at 3:35
Lawrence's Newest 18 Club
Millcrest
Shopping Center
9th & Iowa
is overdue and 15 cents for each additional hour. Fines on overdue books are 25 cents a day.
The Office of Admissions and Records refuses to let a student see his transcript or any other record.
"We're just interested in having the periodical returned so it will be available to users when needed."
Even though the library won't take action to insure that fines under $1 are paid, she said, smaller fines are more likely to be paid than larger amounts.
"Most of them know that they're bringing the magazine back late and for their own convenience they're willing to pay the fine," she said. "People with smaller fines are more willing to pay because it's not much skin off their nose."
OWL SOCIETY
Junior Men's Honorary Organization
Applications available in Alumni Association Office, Rm. 403, Kansas Union.
Applications due Friday, April 15
Vegetarian Delights 14th & Mass.
Collectively owned & operated
Breakfast & lunch, 9:00-2:00
Dinner, 5:30-9:00
Coffee House Fri. & Sat.
with live entertainment
9 pm-Midnight
Room to rent? Advertise it in the Kanson 864-4358
--now only
BORDER BANDIDO
Texas Burrito
EAT IN OR CARRY OUT
99c
Reg.
$1.59
Offer good Mon., April 11 - Thurs., April 14 1528 W. 23rd across from Post Office 842-8861
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