Under-Represented Populations Instruments

Student Course Evaluations

Instrument 1: Instructor Evaluation

Project: Geology in Social and Historical Context: Performing Earth Science Education
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Funding Source: NSF: Program for Women and Girls (HRD)

Purpose: To provide constructive feedback to Geoscience Department instructors about their teaching techniques, the classroom environment, and the organization of the course

Administered To: Students who took a course in the Geoscience Department

Topics Covered:

• Course Evaluation: areas for program improvement, assessment, importance, instructor, materials, methods, objectives, opportunity to learn, practical value, satisfaction
• Identity Issues: instructor, methods
• Plans & Expectations (Student): academic performance
• Self-Assessment (Student): comfort, confidence, engagement
• Background Characteristics & Activities (Student): academic level, academic performance, education, prior coursework, purpose for participation
• Demographics (Student): age, ethnicity, gender

Format/Length: 81 questions, 11 open- and 70 closed-ended, plus 16 demographic questions

Teaching evaluations are an important means of providing constructive feedback to your instructors regarding teaching techniques employed and manner in which the classroom environment is organized and run. By filling out this form, you are in no way affecting the final grade that you will receive in this course. Your professor will not see the results of this evaluation until after grades have been given to the registrar. This evaluation is anonymous. You do not have to identify yourself by name anywhere on this form. The results of your responses are not only important for helping to improve your instructor's teaching abilities, but ultimately will help the department to properly assess your instructor in terms of promotion, merit, and tenure. This form is designed so that you have the opportunity to provide written comments as well as mark a numerical rating to the category that best represents your opinions. We encourage you to include explanatory comments.

Course #:_______________	Instructor:_____________	Fall 19___
		Spring 19___
		Summer 19___

STUDENT INFORMATION
Before responding to questions about the instructor, please answer some basic questions about yourself that are helpful in understanding classroom composition. Please check the category which applies or fill in the blank.

1.	Age:  ________
2.	Sex:
	Female__________	Male__________

3.	Ethnicity/Race
		_____African American/Black
		_____Asian American/Pacific Islander
		_____Caucasian/White/Non-Hispanic
		_____Hispanic/Latino American
		_____Native American/Aboriginal American
		_____Multi-racial/ethnic (please specify)
		_____Other (please specify) ___________________

4.  Class Rank:

___Freshman ___Sophomore ___Junior ___Senior ___Graduate

___Special Student (Not formally admitted to UNLV)

5.  Major:  __________________________________

6.  Current overall GPA:

___Below 1.00

___1.00-1.49

___1.50-2.49

___2.50-3.49

___3.50-4.00

7.  How often do you attend this class:

___Always attend

___Attend most of the time

___Attend some of the time

___Hardly ever attend

8.  What grade do you believe you will receive for this course:

A

B

C

D

F

Pass

Fail

Don't Know

9.  Before you began this course, what letter grade did you expect:

A

B

C

D

F

Pass

Fail

Don't Know

10.  How many high school level science or mathematics courses have you had:

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

11.  How many college level science, mathematics, and engineering courses have you had at other universities or community colleges (prior to this semester):

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

12.  How many science, mathematics, and engineering courses have you taken at UNLV (do not count those that you have repeated):

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

13.  What were your reasons for taking this class? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY:

____ It is a college or major requirement

____ It was one of my options to fulfill the University science requirement

____ It sounded interesting

____ Friend(s) recommended the course

____ Friend(s) recommended the instructor

____ The time it was offered was the most convenient

____ I have had the instructor before

____ Something else (PLEASE SPECIFY) _________________________

EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTRUCTOR
The following section deals with questions that ask you to rate your instructor as a teacher. Please check the percentage that indicates how you would rank your instructor compared to others.

14.  In general, how would you rate this instructor as a teacher?

_____Top 10% of all instructors you have ever had

_____Top 25% of all instructors you have ever had

_____Top 50% of all instructors you have ever had

_____Bottom 50% of all instructors you have ever had

_____Bottom 25% of all instructors you have ever had

_____Bottom 10% of all instructors you have ever had

15.  Now, thinking of other instructors at UNLV, how would you rate your instructor?

_____Top 10% of instructors at UNLV

_____Top 25% of instructors at UNLV

_____Top 50% of instructors at UNLV

_____Bottom 50% of instructors at UNLV

_____Bottom 25% of instructors at UNLV

_____Bottom 10% of instructors at UNLV

For the next series of questions, respond to each statement about your instructor. Please circle the number which best describes your opinion. Base your answers according to this scale: 5=strongly agree (SA), 4=agree (A), 3=neutral (N), 2=disagree (D), 1=strongly disagree (SD), NA=not applicable (NA).

		SA	A	N	D	SD	NA
16.	I would take another course with this instructor.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
17.	I would recommend this instructor to another student.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
18.	My instructor was available during regular office hours.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
19.	My instructor was approachable before or after class.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
20.	My instructor was approachable by E-mail.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
21.	The instructor demonstrated command of the subject matter.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
22.	The instructor showed enthusiasm for the subject matter.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
23.	My instructor's oral delivery was clear, appropriate, and effective. Please explain. _______________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
24.	The instructor was prepared for class. Please explain. _______________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
25.	The instructor made the major concepts of the course easy to understand.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
26.	The instructor clearly explained the lab activities.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
27.	The instructor explained the importance of lab activities in relation to the lecture material.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
28.	The instructor followed the course syllabus.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
29.	The explanations and examples given by the instructor in lecture were clear and understandable.	5	4	3	2	1	NA

GRADING AND EXAM METHODS
Please continue to circle the number which best describes your opinion. The scale is the same as above. 5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neutral, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree, NA=not applicable.

		SA	A	N	D	SD	NA
30.	The instructor's exams were fair. Why/or why not? ______________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
31.	The instructor's grading system was fair. Why/or why not? ______________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
32.	The instructor made helpful comments on exams and papers.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
33.	The instructor clearly indicated what material would be important to know for tests.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
34.	The instructor clearly listed the course objectives in the syllabus.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
35.	The instructor was consistent in the grading policy. Please Explain. _______________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA

SCIENCE INTEREST
Continue to circle the number which best describes your opinion. The scale is the same as above. 5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neutral, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree, NA=not applicable.

		SA	A	N	D	SD	NA
36.	The instructor made science really interesting.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
37.	I want to take more science courses because of this instructor.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
38.	The instructor helped me to become interested in science outside the classroom. If so, how? __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
39.	The instructor helped me to develop confidence in my ability to comprehend the subject matter that was covered.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
40.	The instructor related course material to everyday life experiences. If so, how? __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
41.	The instructor suggested ways to apply course knowledge to community interests. If so, how? __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Continue to circle the number which best describes your opinion. 5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neutral, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree, NA=not applicable.

		SA	A	N	D	SD	NA
42.	The instructor treated students with respect.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
43.	The instructor seemed to call more on male students than female students.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
44.	The instructor was fair and impartial in dealings with students.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
45.	The instructor made humorous references or comments that made me feel uncomfortable. If so, how? __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
46.	The instructor avoided sexist language in class. If so, how? __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
47.	The instructor racist language in class. Please Explain. __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
48.	The instructor's behavior towards female students and male students was the same. Comment? __________________________	5	4	3	2	1	NA
49.	The instructor seemed to call more on female students than male students.	5	4	3	2	1	NA

TEACHING METHODS AND STYLE
Please continue to circle the number which best describes your opinion. 5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neutral, 2=disagree, 1=strongly disagree, NA=not applicable.

		SA	A	N	D	SD	NA
50.	The instructor involved students in class discussions.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
51.	The instructor welcomed student comments and opinions in class.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
52.	The instructor integrated current examples and new materials when appropriate.	5	4	3	2	1	NA

For the next question, please list a letter on the line next to the teaching technique that best describes your instructor's use of the methods in the classroom. Please use this scale. F=Frequently, O=Occasionally, R=Rarely, N=Never.

53. The instructor's pedagogical(teaching) approach involved:

    ____Lecture

    ____Small group work

    ____Speakers

    ____Films/audiovisual

    ____Class discussion

    ____Class projects

PLEASE COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

54. What are the strengths of your instructor?

     

     

55. What areas could be improved by your instructor?

     

     

56. Please share any comments or concerns that were not addressed on this evaluation.

     

     

57. Do you have any comments or concerns about this evaluation form?

     

     

Course evaluations are an important means of providing constructive feedback to your instructors and the department regarding the course, its content, and the textbooks and other learning materials that were utilized. By filling out this form, you re in no way affecting the final grade that you receive in this course. Your professor will not see the results of this evaluation until after the grades are given to the registrar. The evaluation is anonymous. You do not have to identify yourself anywhere on this form, unless you care to. The results of your responses are not only important for improving the content of your course for instructors, but also help the department assess the strengths and weaknesses of the course and its various components as well. This form is designed so that you have the opportunity to provide written comments about your feelings about course materials, content, and texts.

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE CONFIDENCE AND INTEREST
1. Listed below are some of the topics that may have been discussed in this class. Please rate yourself on each topic on a 1 through 10 basis (1=no interest or confidence, 5=average interest and confidence, and 10=very interested and confident). "Confidence" refers to the way you feel knowledgeable about the subject or topics, and "interest" regards your feelings about learning more about the topic.

				Confidence			Interest
A.	Water Scarcity in Las Vegas			_______			_______
B.	How Mountain Ranges Form			_______			_______
C.	Why and Where Earthquakes Occur			_______			_______
D.	Why Natural Disasters Occur			_______			_______
E.	The Theory of Plate Tectonics			_______			_______
F.	Fragility of Desert Environments			_______			_______
G.	How Ocean Basins Form			_______			_______
H.	Magnitude of Geologic Time			_______			_______
I.	The Destructive (or Erosive) Power of Water			_______			_______
J.	The Politics of Water			_______			_______
K.	Identification of Rocks and Minerals			_______			_______
L.	The Politics of Mineral Exploration			_______			_______
M.	Reading Geologic and Topographic Maps			_______			_______
N.	The Difference Between Climate and Weather			_______			_______
O.	The Greenhouse Effect			_______			_______
P.	What Ozone Is			_______			_______
Q.	The Historical Context of Science			_______			_______
R.	The Political/Economic Nature of Scientific Inquiry			_______			_______
S.	The Relationship of Feminist Thought To Science			_______			_______
T.	Feminist Pedagogy			_______			_______
U.	The Construction of Knowledge			_______			_______

For the next series of questions, respond to each statement about your current behavior and attitudes towards science. Please circle the number which best describes your opinion. Base your answers according to this scale: 5=strongly agree (SA), 4=agree (A), 3=neutral (N), 2=disagree (D), 1=strongly disagree, (SD), (NA)=not applicable.

		SA	A	N	D	SD	NA
2.	I generally feel comfortable participating in a science classroom environment.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
3.	I feel comfortable asking questions in my earth systems science course.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
4.	I feel confident in responding to questions posed to the class by my instructors in my course.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
5.	I have felt free to question or correct my instructor during class.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
6.	I generally feel confident in my earth systems science knowledge.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
7.	I feel confident about my science abilities.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
8.	I feel confident about my general ability to learn science.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
9.	I have found myself motivated to do reading beyond course requirements.	5	4	3	2	1	NA
10.	I feel that the course content relates to me personally.	5	4	3	2	1	NA

PLEASE COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

11. If you had to describe this course to a friend, what three adjectives would you use?