Why is it important to fill in teaching and learning evaluation forms?

Every academic year, at the end of the autumn and spring semesters, a survey of Vytautas Didios University (VDU) students about teaching and studying is conducted. This semester's survey is open until July 15. In the student portal www.studentas.vdu.lt you can fill in the Teaching and Studying Evaluation Forms and express your opinion anonymously.

Student engagement is on the rise

In the spring semester of last year, about 101 TP3T VDU students filled out the questionnaires:

Table 1. in 2018 spring semester data

In the autumn of this academic year, student activity increased - about 211 TP3T students filled out the questionnaires:

Table 2. in 2018 fall semester data

*MA started to carry out another survey regarding the specifics of the organization of studies - a survey of the quality of study programs; ŽŪA students have been participating in the teaching and studying assessment survey since 2019. spring

in 2018 in the fall semester, more than 30-40% students who participated in some study subjects spoke about teaching and studying. Greater change is possible when students are more actively involved in the survey. In such cases, students' opinion is an effective tool in improving the quality of studies.

Students are interested in change

When asked why they are relatively passive in the survey, students say they don't believe it can make a difference. "Evaluation questionnaires don't seem to change much. It would be interesting to find out not what percentage of students are satisfied or dissatisfied with the quality of teaching, but what has changed, how much the students' opinion has an influence on the changes in the teacher's teaching", Kamilė, a student of the World Politics and Economics program, shares her opinion.

The involvement of students of the Academy of Music is the lowest. Music pedagogy student Deimantė, who shared her opinion, reveals that this is because students have no complaints: "Usually you express your opinion when things are really bad, and in our faculty all problems are solved here and now: if we are dissatisfied with the work of the teacher, we talk to the teacher or go to the dean's office."

Unfavorably evaluated teachers - analysis of the reasons and their discussion with the management

The Department of Study Quality of VMU informs that every teacher can monitor the summarized results of the survey about teaching and studying in their study subjects: they can see the aggregated student evaluations and expressed comments. Deans of faculties and vice-deans of studies (persons corresponding to their positions) also have the opportunity to monitor the results of the survey and familiarize themselves with the situation in the entire faculty.

The more students present their opinions, the clearer the student's expectations are for the teacher and the administration, which should be taken into account when organizing and conducting study subjects.

Unfavorably evaluated teachers by students are interviewed by the university and department management to discuss the possible reasons that influenced such results, review the workload in the department and offer opportunities for professional development. Based on the results of the survey, didactic development seminars for teachers on various topics are initiated.

The best rated teachers are rewarded

Students usually fill out teaching and learning evaluation forms to provide criticism, but positive feedback is just as important. The best-rated teachers of the semester are given digital badges in the Moodle environment, and the best-rated teachers of the entire academic year are awarded at the end of the academic year.