Teaching Evaluation

Teaching evaluation is a constructive process and review of pedagogical practices, effectiveness of instructional methods, curriculum delivery, classroom engagement, and the overall impact on student learning.

Improving the Evaluation of Teaching

At Rutgers, we are committed to supporting the development of robust processes for the evaluation of teaching. The Guidelines for Teaching Evaluation require that each department develop a teaching evaluation process which may include peer review of teaching, review of student feedback, and review of information from a teaching portfolio.

OTEAR has developed a series of best practice recommendations that may guide departments seeking to adopt and improve procedures for teaching evaluation. The pages here provide information on different forms of teaching evaluation and how to put them together within a department. In addition to brief summaries of best practices, we have compiled a list of resources that model quality evaluation programs which can be found on our Improving the Evaluation of Teaching Canvas site.

Teaching Portfolios

The Teaching Portfolio is best thought of as a documented statement of a faculty member’s teaching responsibilities, philosophy, goals, and accomplishments as a teacher. It is a flexible document, and can be used in a number of ways, depending upon the needs and interests of the faculty member. It can be an extensive collection of information, or something much more compact and limited.

Peer Review of Instruction

Peer review of teaching is the process by which an instructor’s faculty peers observe a component of his or her teaching and provide feedback for professional development and summative evaluation. Through this collaborative exchange, instructors can share successes and challenges with colleagues, allowing them to improve their teaching practices with collective insights.

Student Feedback

While students are not subject or pedagogy experts, students spend more time with faculty than anyone else and can provide valuable information about instructor behaviors such as whether the instructor was engaging, prepared, organized, and understandable. When used in combination with other components of teaching evaluation, and when interpreted carefully, student feedback is a valuable tool for measuring effective teaching.

Additional Resources