The IDEA Center

Pilot

Beginning with a pilot (either with a smaller group of faculty or all faculty surveying just one class) builds some trust and confidence in the process, as faculty can have some experience with the process without the results being used for administrative decisions.

Flexibility

While faculty members are required to survey one major course and one general education course, they may choose which specific courses are surveyed.

Faculty Control

Faculty members are responsible for providing a holistic summary of IDEA results for their review materials. The evaluation process does not focus on the numbers but on the faculty member’s interpretation of the results.

Faculty Decision

Three different instruments were piloted and the faculty voted to use IDEA campus wide. Faculty also determined the purpose and scope of its use.

Provide Guidance

New faculty members are evaluated in every course prior to applying for tenure. In the first semester, the Dean of Faculty Growth and Assessment will meet with new faculty to discuss the process of course evaluation and the IDEA form.

Recognize Strong Performance

A memorandum of commendation is sent from the Dean to all faculty members showing student learning (Progress on Relevant Objectives) at the 90th percentile or higher.

Communicate Results of Institutional Performance

Within a week after the forms are returned to instructors, the Dean provides an interpretation of the Institutional Group Summary Report, focusing on institutional norms for learning objectives, types of instruction emphasized, and observations on the aggregated student reports, identifying any concerns suggested by the data.

Provide Faculty Training Opportunities

The resident IDEA expert provides an IDEA overview at department meetings or at new faculty orientation meetings. Individual sessions are available as requested.

Provide Administrator Training

This facilitates buy-in as faculty members have confidence that those making decisions are doing so in an informed manner.

Ongoing Communication and Feedback

The Institutional Research director continually communicates with faculty and administrators about processes, policies, individual problems or questions and invites others to share information with their colleagues as appropriate. This improves internal processes and policies related to the use of IDEA. Some campuses use workshops, meetings, campus publications and listserves to communicate about proper administration of IDEA, internal deadlines, and role of the coordinating office.

Resident Expert

Having an individual or group of individuals who are available as “experts” in IDEA and faculty evaluation provide assistance to interpreting scores and directing individuals to additional sources of information related to teaching improvement.

Focus on Teaching Improvement

IDEA is used primarily to guide improvement efforts. Faculty members can include results in the review process at their own discretion.

Consistency

Use IDEA results consistently and as intended through documented policies.