eSPOT questionnaire to undergo changes

By Nia Brookins

Published Nov 8, 2016

The faculty senate voted to change the criteria of the semesterly eSPOT teacher evaluations at its meeting Thursday. Julie Fry, chair of the senate’s Educational Evaluation Committee, proposed the idea to change the the Student Perception of Teaching (eSPOT) questionnaire. This decision was based on a series of student focus groups’ findings and recommendations from last school year. With their input, along with the recommendation of the senate’s University Evaluation Committee, the EEC changed some questions and erased others. “We now have 12 questions compared to 22 in the spring,” Fry said.

Jane Fry speaking with Chair Jesus Castro-Balbi at the Senate meeting Thursday. (Nia Brookins/TCU360)

Fry pointed out that in the past, students had to do instructor questions for classes even when they had multiple instructors. She said the student groups recommended that the questions be unique and personal. “They are more meaningful,” she said. “And with the shortened survey, faculty members can add their own personal questions that would really help them.” The Senate approved this proposal and the new eSPOT is scheduled to be used at the end of this semester. For more information on the Senate, visit their webpage.

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