Teaching & Learning Evaluations

The evaluation of student learning is critical to continuously enhancing the quality and effectiveness of learning design, teaching strategies, learning activities and assessment. Encouraging formal and informal feedback from students and peers is indispensible to enhancing professional teaching practice and optimising student learning outcomes.

ANU by 2010 identifies our highest educational priority as developing individual talents of students to the fullest extent possible through the quality of the learning experience. With this objective in mind, the evaluation of learning is a critical component of assuring the educational quality of the student experience at the ANU.

Learning evaluation should ideally be an ongoing process of professional inquiry in teaching that leads to enhanced learning environments, course design, support resources and/or assessment. CEDAM assists by providing a range of evaluation surveys, survey data analysis, alternative evaluative models and advice on strategies to enhance teaching methods and learning outcomes.

ANUSET surveys*

Standardised ANUSET surveys allow you to obtain comprehensive student feedback on teaching and learning at the end of semesters. These evaluation surveys are available in a variety of forms and are available in hard copy or online. In consultation with CEDAM, lecturers are also able to customise their evaluation by adding a limited number of their own questions.

Data analysis, reporting and survey design

The Evaluations team in CEDAM can assist in analysing, interpreting and responding to evaluation outcomes. We can assist in analysing your evaluation outcomes, in developing strategies to respond to feedback on your teaching or to prepare evidence for promotional rounds. We also can also help you design your own customised surveys.

Alternative forms of evaluation

Whilst most teaching environments can benefit from the formal feedback on learning offered by ANUSET at the end of semester, this does not mean other ongoing forms of evaluation are of less value. Increasingly, academics are using innovative forms of ongoing evaluation during semester teaching and the Evaluations Team can provide advice on these alternative types of  evaluation. This include feedback through diverse evaluation forms like as focus groups, minute papers, peer collaboration, rapid student  feedback and action research.

Closing the loop:

acknowledging the importance of feedback (as well as acting on it…)

A critical part of the evaluation cycle is not only acting on feedback: it is also acknowledging its value to students so they can see its significance as a means of improving teaching and learning outcomes. If students cannot see the value of evaluation, what they contribute has the potential to be superficial, rushed or ill-conceived. There are a range of strategies that can help to achieve this.

Other evaluation resources

An extensive range of resources on evaluation in higher education are available here.

Key Contacts

* ANUSET surveys and the online system that hubs online surveys are currently under review