Co-Presenters: Various
Format: Workshop
Description:
This presentation was aimed at disseminating information about MSU's transition to a new Student Perceptions of Learning Environments Policy (SPLEP) and an associated Student Perceptions of Learning Survey (SPLS).
The goals of the SPLEP are to support high-quality instruction by providing:
- instructors and academic programs with data about student perceptions related to instructional practices to support course improvement in MSU’s teaching and learning environments;
- instructional supervisors with one source of information for consideration in personnel decisions such as retention, promotion, salary, and tenure in recognition that effective teaching constitutes an important criterion in evaluating personnel; and
- students with information to guide decision-making related to course selection.
In addition to outlining the policy, guidance was also be provided as to a set of institution-level questions for the SPLS that were developed based upon discussion of feedback submitted from across the university. These questions were developed with emphases on the following priorities:
- Expectations are clear
- Course is organized
- Atmosphere promotes learning
- Students have an opportunity to demonstrate understanding
- Students gain knowledge
- Students are engaged (course-created engagement)
The SPLS includes a series of questions that will provide student-facing information that can be especially useful when selecting courses. Discriminant validity- questions are also included, making it possible to determine the extent to which items meant to capture feedback about the quality of instruction are distinct from factors that are outside of the control of the instructor, such as:
- Prior level of interest
- Perceived workload
The presentation also included a discussion as to what the results do (not) mean, as well as how the feedback can be used to improve the quality of instruction broadly across the university. Concerns as to the potential (mis-) use of the data from a performance evaluation perspective will also be discussed.
