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Preparing for course evaluations is important for instructors and students. Include details about the evaluation in your syllabus from day one. In synchronous classes, set aside time for students to complete their evaluations together. For asynchronous classes, send regular reminders to students throughout the evaluation window.

Instructors will receive automated emails from the Blue system a few days prior to the opening of the evaluation window. This email will include a link to your "Subject Management" tasks on your Blue homepage. From this tasks page, you can monitor evaluation windows, response rates, and access direct links or QR codes to share with students.  

Best practices for preparing for and administering evaluations:

1. Evaluation Prep Begins on Day 1
   • Include evaluation windows in your syllabus.
   • For in-person classes, set aside class time to complete evaluations. Avoid high-stress days.
   • For all class types, include the evaluation due date in the Canvas course calendar "To Do".
   • For evening or long classes, plan to give time at the beginning of class.
   • Create a zero-point assignment in Canvas. Students can upload their completion certificates to verify. This will not compromise the confidentiality of their responses.
   • Share some valuable feedback students gave in previous semesters. Some departments and courses have aggregated comment summaries. Contact oie@weber.edu for more information.
2. In-Person Classes
   • Remind students about a week before the evaluation window opens.
   • Leave the classroom once students begin the evaluation and have a TA or student let you know once everyone is finished.
   • Use a QR code to allow students to complete the evaluations on their phones.
   • Throughout the evaluation window, share the response rate percentage with students.
3. Online Asynchronous Classes
   • Remind students about a week before the evaluation window opens.
   • Communication is KEY!
   • Share with students how you have used feedback in previous semesters.
   • Email the class to update them on the class response rate percentage.
     • Sample email:
       • Dear Class!
         I need your help. Our overall response rate to the course evaluation is currently XX%, and I would like to increase this.
         If you have already completed the course evaluation, Thank you!
         If you have not yet completed the course evaluation, please do so by [end date]. I want to hear your feedback because your experience in my class matters.
         To complete the course evaluation, go to our class page in Canvas and click the "Course Evaluation" link in the self-navigation menu. If that is unavailable for some reason, you may also access the evaluations through the Blue app in the eWeber portal.

  

Evaluations are conducted once approximately 80% of teaching days in a given term are complete. First block course evaluations are open for one week; 2nd block and full term course evaluations are open for two weeks. All evaluations close prior to finals. To see the dates for the current and upcoming terms, see the Course Evaluation homepage.

Students have several convenient ways to access their evaluations. Additionally,

• Automated emails with links from the evaluation system (Blue) are sent to students' weber.edu addresses before and during the evaluation window. The emails are sent the first day of the evaluation period and reminder emails are sent prior to the close of the evaluation period to students who have un/incomplete evaluations.
• When students login to Canvas during the evaluation period, a popup box will appear with a link to the evaluations. Alternatively, a link is available directly within the Canvas course navigation.
• Instructors may share a QR code in class, making it easy for students to scan and complete evaluations from their mobile devices.

How to access response rates:

• Log in the eWeber portal
• Locate the app labeled Blue Course Evaluations
• Select the link which will direct your to the Explorance login window; select ‘Users’ from the drop down menu and you will be authenticated to the application
• On the left-hand side, just under your profile, you will see a link to view response rates:

 

• Alternatively, faculty will be sent an email, once course evaluations are active, that includes a direct link to their course response monitor.
• Response rates are only visible while the evaluations are open.
• For more information about navigating your Blue homepage, see the "Using the Data Dashboard" section of the Accessing and Understanding Evaluation Data page on the OIE website.

 

Tips for low student response rates:

Faculty can implement a number of strategies to increase evaluation response rates:

• Talk with your students about the importance and use of course evaluations. If you can share an example of change you have implemented as a result of feedback from your course evaluations that will help your students to see your investment in their feedback
• Give students time in class to complete their evaluation(s)
• Create a 0 point assignment in Canvas with a due date of the last day of the evaluation period. This puts the evaluation on the students' Canvas calendars. The assignment can be created as a 'no submission' assignment.
• Consider an incentive
• Additional resources are available. Please contact oie@weber.edu for more information.

Once a student has completed a course evaluation and submitted their responses, they will see a ‘thank you’ page that includes a link to download a certificate of evaluation completion. Instruct your students to download the certificate, save it to their computer, and submit a copy to you per your instructions.

• Faculty can create an assignment within Canvas to which evaluation certificates of completion can be submitted.
• You can direct students to send you the certificate directly to your email.

 

Sending a certificate will not compromise the confidentiality of a student's evaluation. Faculty will not receive results of their evaluation until after final grades have been submitted. The reports do not contain any student identification (unless a student includes their name in open-ended responses); so student results are completely confidential. Evaluation reports will not be generated unless at least 3 students have completed the evaluation.

Resources for Accessing and Understanding Evaluation Data