Our Services
- Student Ratings of Instruction
- Assesses effectiveness by focusing on learning and curricular objectives.
- Feedback for Department Chairs
- Comprises the only nationally normed tool for evaluating chairpersons.
- Chair Coaching Service
- Guiding chairs through an individualized process of professional discovery and reflection.
- Feedback for Administrators
- Considers impressions of stakeholders on 10 pivotal characteristics.
Southeast Missouri State University
Form Type: Diagnostic and Short Form
Areas of Best Practice: Teaching Improvement, Program Evaluation and Accreditation, Logistics, Student Buy-In, Faculty Buy-In and Training
Teaching Improvement
The faculty at Southeast Missouri University voted to use the IDEA system primarily as a formative tool that can also be used in the promotion and tenure process at the discretion of the individual faculty member. Every undergraduate and graduate class is surveyed every other year in the spring semester. In other semesters, about one-third of the classes are surveyed at the discretion of the faculty or for faculty on probation. One of the main reasons for selecting IDEA is the ability to compare individual results with national norms. Classes with fewer than four students are exempt from the process, along with a few others that have determined that the IDEA instrument is not as relevant (e.g., music lessons, reading instruction, practicum courses).
The IDEA reports serve as a starting point for discussion when faculty come to the Teaching and Learning Center for assistance. The results provide a place to start the discussion about teaching methods and learning objectives. These discussions have lead to the development and use of mid-semester assessments to gauge student input early so that mid-semester changes can be made.
The Teaching and Learning Center also sponsors workshops about administering and interpreting IDEA and how to prepare course syllabi focused on the course learning objectives.
Program Evaluation and Accreditation
The Provost’s office has recently instituted annual reports that require key performance indicators for departments, colleges, and the institution. The key performance indicator for teaching performance for each department is the distribution of IDEA results on “Progress on Relevant Objectives” and “Overall excellence of teacher” as provided in the Group Summary Report.
Group Summary Reports are provided to all departments, Deans, and the Provost. An interpretive memo is prepared by the Teaching and Learning Center to facilitate their interpretation of the summary data and to highlight any important results. The Group Summary Reports were also included in the NCA report as an indicator of longitudinal teaching effectiveness.
Logistics
A one-page instruction sheet is provided to the faculty, summarizing the important deadlines and administration guidelines (e.g., instructor leaving the room while students are completing the surveys). The Teaching and Learning Center serves as the single point of contact for IDEA, which helps facilitate responses to questions about administering the surveys and interpreting the results.
Student Buy-In
During the spring semesters when every class is surveyed, the Teaching and Learning Center works with the student newspaper to publicize the importance of the survey process. This helps prepare students for the number of surveys they are asked to complete and communicates the purpose and importance of the process.
Faculty Buy-In and Training
Faculty buy-in was first achieved through the process of electing to use IDEA. Three different instruments were piloted and faculty voted on which one to adopt campus wide. Faculty also determined the purpose and scope of use. Subsequently, continued broad communication has promoted faculty buy-in. During the semesters of campus-wide use, the Teaching and Learning Center communicates with faculty and administrators through workshops, campus publications, listservs, and faculty and administrator meetings. They review proper administration and use of IDEA, internal deadlines, and the role of the Teaching and Learning Center in coordinating and supporting the process.
A portion of the new faculty orientation introduces faculty to IDEA, the teaching/learning philosophy and the role of the Teaching and Learning Center staff as the coordinators and resident experts in the use of IDEA. Periodic workshops, conducted for all faculty, focus on preparing syllabi and course objectives, administering IDEA, and interpreting IDEA results.
