Please feel free to forward this note.
(Embedded image moved to file: pic31322.jpg)

The Senate of York University
Committee on Teaching and Learning

Forum on Student Evaluation of Teaching
Friday, April 4, 2008
10:00 a.m. ? 12 noon 
Senate Chamber, N940 Ross

The Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning is extending an invitation 
to
members  of  Senate,  faculty  and  undergraduate  and graduate students 
to
participate in a Forum on the Student Evaluation of Teaching.

The  Forum  will  help  to enhance future evaluation of teaching at York 
by
identifying: 
1. Student, faculty and academic administrator perceptions of current
teaching evaluation practices at York; 
2. Aspects of current processes that need to be improved;
3.  New  opportunities  and  strategies to increase the usefulness of 
teaching  evaluations  from  the perspectives of students, faculty
and academic administrators. 

Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 1:
http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate/committees/scotl/Forum2008/SCOTLRsvp.htm


Agenda

1.    Welcome and Introduction:  Gary Spraakman, Chair, SCOTL

2.    Insights into student and faculty perceptions of current teaching
evaluation practices

3.    Panelist perspectives:
a) Art Hilliker, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science & 
Engineering; President, YUFA
b)    Kristian Rajroop, student representative on SCOTL
c) Jerry Ginsburg, Department of History, Faculty of Arts
d) Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt, Associate Vice-President, Academic 
Learning Initiatives
e) Ros Woodhouse, Academic Director, Centre for the Support of 
Teaching

4.    Open Discussion

5.    Summary and Next Steps:  Gary Spraakman

Background Information

The Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning plays a leadership role in
advancing practices and policies to strengthen the learning and teaching
environment at York. Over time, it has provided guidelines on good 
practice
for documenting and evaluating teaching. Recently, SCOTL has focused its
attention on increasing the usefulness of teaching evaluations and has 
made
recommendations to provide faculty with salient and practical information
on their courses and teaching. At the same time, the University has 
enabled
teaching evaluations to be conducted online, with the goals of increasing
the timeliness and security of information. These issues were considered 
at
a SCOTL-facilitated discussion at the December 13, 2007, meeting of 
Senate.
The background report for that discussion can be found at:
http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate/committees/scotl/reports/2007-08/Scotl071213.pdf


At Senate, SCOTL Chair, Professors Spraakman and Woodhouse opened the
session by identifying the value of evaluations in the context of UAP
objectives, pedagogical concerns and trends in postsecondary policy. Valid
instruments can complement other pedagogical strategies and create a
positive, interactive experience for students. The ensuing discussion
highlighted the need for critical perspectives on conventional approaches,
and the importance of innovation and transparency for fostering meaningful
dialogue about teaching and students academic experience. The Forum
provides an opportunity for all members of the York teaching and learning
community to participate in a more extensive discussion of our goals and
approaches to evaluating teaching, and to influence our future work in 
this
area.