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Student evaluations of instruction all move online

October 21, 2009

By Jeff McCallister

In about a month, students here can begin filling out forms to evaluate their fall-quarter instructors. For the first time, all of those forms now will be completed online.

Dick Gunther, a political science professor who has been working on the online Student Evaluation of Instruction issue for several years, made a presentation to University Senate about the system at the Oct. 15 meeting to quell any lingering concerns among faculty.

The SEI results are used for several purposes. The qualititive results — in which students rate several areas on a 1-5 scale — are factored into tenure evaluations. Those cumulative results also are available to students for use in deciding which instructor to take for a given course. Individual faculty use the qualitative results — the answers to the open-ended questions — as a means of self-evaluation to improve their teaching.

Gunther said the online version has several advantages over the paper forms formerly available (data quality, data integrity and security, lower cost, quicker availability and improved sortability of results) and have negligible difference in overall ratings students offer.

“There are a few down sides, such as a short-term decline in the response rate when other universities have moved to all-online forms, and there is a real risk of some skewed data for low-enrollment courses, but the benefits greatly outweigh the risks, especially because they are only in the short term and can be managed.”

Gunther said students’ familiarity with Carmen and the Student Information Service, which will be used to link to the SEI, make it desireable to make the switch now as opposed to a few years ago.

“There are all kinds of instruments already out there that students use to compare their professors, but none of them have the statistically reliable amount of data available with the SEI,” he said.

He pointed specifically to ratemyprofessors.com, which student members of the senate said many students use to learn about professors in advance of taking a course.

“I looked at my own ratings there, and saw that even though I have taught thousands of students, only 24 have rated my work,” he said. “And I must say that I was a little disappointed that my name did not have a little red-hot chili pepper beside it. It’s just a bunch of frivolous nonsense.”

More information is available at sei.osu.edu.

A new look at an old problem

October 21, 2009

The Department of Theatre’s fall drama — staged as part of a new Big Ten collaboration — tackles the thorny issue of race relations

By Julia Harris

Kayla Jackmon may not have been alive in the 1960s, but she knows a heck of a lot about that decade just the same — particularly about the year 1967, as experienced by one carefully integrated Detroit neighborhood.

As one of the 10 actors in the play Palmer Park, the first production of the year for the Department of Theatre, Jackmon has done enough in-depth research on this volatile period of American history to discuss it like an expert. Continue reading ‘A new look at an old problem’

Lines of sight

October 21, 2009

Interactive virtual exhibit sheds light on ancient wisdom

By Julia Harris

In New Mexico’s desolate Chaco Canyon, a sprawl of crumbling ruins raises more questions than answers about the culture that once thrived there. Questions like, why build such elaborate structures in a harsh and inhospitable climate? How were those towering masonry buildings, honeycombed with dark and tiny rooms, constructed?

In other words, what did they know and how did they know it? Continue reading ‘Lines of sight’

Tell me a story: Library ReadAlouds bring campus and community together for tall tales

March 4, 2009

By Julia Harris

Ah, the ancient ritual of the bedtime story: Children tucked in and fighting sleep, listening to tales of mystery and morality in the dim glow of lamplight.

It’s a great combination, really — a thought-provoking story, a bit of quality time with the family and a comforting way to end a day. Continue reading ‘Tell me a story: Library ReadAlouds bring campus and community together for tall tales’

Not just kids’ play: OSU Kid Corps takes on early literacy for Columbus preschoolers

March 4, 2009

By Julia Harris

Aaron Robertson knows he can’t make every preschooler in the Columbus metropolitan area fall in love with reading. But that doesn’t stop him — and about 90 Ohio State students — from trying.

For the past four years, Robertson has been spearheading a group called OSU Kid Corps, an intrepid and steadily growing band of college students who work with local preschool providers to develop early literacy skills. Continue reading ‘Not just kids’ play: OSU Kid Corps takes on early literacy for Columbus preschoolers’

Energy on demand

March 4, 2009

By Jeff McCallister

Rich Housh knew he had a good idea, one that could be lucrative for years to come as the world moves away from automobiles powered by internal combustion engines.

What he didn’t have was a way to develop it, a place to test it or a means to improve it.

It didn’t take him long to find a solution. Continue reading ‘Energy on demand’

USAC calls for greater educational benefits, career pathing

March 4, 2009

By Adam King

In the past when the University Staff Advisory Committee submitted its compensation and benefits report to the university leadership, the report ran more than 20 pages and covered every result from its survey to staff.

That left a lot of information for the president and his or her vice presidents to thumb through and put a lot of suggestions for action on the table at once. Continue reading ‘USAC calls for greater educational benefits, career pathing’