Evaluation!
February 23rd, 2011 01:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunadelcorvoWell, I had my chair in to evaluate my teaching today. *collapses in nervous heap* I wasn't really too wigged about it before hand, and class went fine, but I find I'm a little wound up now, after the fact!
I think it went well. We ended early, but we were reviewing for our mid-term exam, so not much to do about that. It's hard to leave time for students to ask questions, but at the same time, be sure to use all your time.... But my reviewer said he understood, and he seemed pleased. He asked some questions about how the students participate, but said it was good that they were asking questions, and didn't seem afraid to do so. He asked if I had any that just wouldn't talk, and I said there were a few that had only piped up occasionally. He asked if I would pick a student that hadn't talked, and I said I didn't think it was my place to put anyone on the hot seat, but that I would say something like "OK, anyone but these three" or whatever, if I kept getting answers from the same few students. He seemed to like that a lot, too.
Given that the topic is religion, he asked if I was surprised at their (lack of) background knowledge. I said I was sometimes quite surprised, and had had to make some adjustments on that basis. Then I told him I had had them write a mini-bio first thing, and I was really pleased to see that no one had been at all judgmental, but there was a lot of exchange going on between students of different backgrounds. I think he really dug that. He also said he saw good signs (asking questions, taking notes, looking back in their notes in order to offer answers, that kind of thing). He also seemed to like the way I structured the exam, in that I tried to focus on having them make connections in material over just regurgitating facts.
So, I think I've done the best possible, and I shall simply have to wait and see how it comes out in the written report.... (And I'm clam as can be about it. Really. I am, honest....)
I think it went well. We ended early, but we were reviewing for our mid-term exam, so not much to do about that. It's hard to leave time for students to ask questions, but at the same time, be sure to use all your time.... But my reviewer said he understood, and he seemed pleased. He asked some questions about how the students participate, but said it was good that they were asking questions, and didn't seem afraid to do so. He asked if I had any that just wouldn't talk, and I said there were a few that had only piped up occasionally. He asked if I would pick a student that hadn't talked, and I said I didn't think it was my place to put anyone on the hot seat, but that I would say something like "OK, anyone but these three" or whatever, if I kept getting answers from the same few students. He seemed to like that a lot, too.
Given that the topic is religion, he asked if I was surprised at their (lack of) background knowledge. I said I was sometimes quite surprised, and had had to make some adjustments on that basis. Then I told him I had had them write a mini-bio first thing, and I was really pleased to see that no one had been at all judgmental, but there was a lot of exchange going on between students of different backgrounds. I think he really dug that. He also said he saw good signs (asking questions, taking notes, looking back in their notes in order to offer answers, that kind of thing). He also seemed to like the way I structured the exam, in that I tried to focus on having them make connections in material over just regurgitating facts.
So, I think I've done the best possible, and I shall simply have to wait and see how it comes out in the written report.... (And I'm clam as can be about it. Really. I am, honest....)
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no subject
Date: February 24th, 2011 02:33 am (UTC)*snicker*
Clam as can be? ;-) From the sounds of it, I think you did quite well. Your methods sound encouraging and engaging for the students.
I'd give you a gold star.
no subject
Date: February 24th, 2011 07:31 pm (UTC)*finger crossed* that all continues on this smoothly as you go along.