The Quality Assurance Directorate at the University of Zambia plays a crucial role in ensuring that the institution maintains high standards of academic excellence and operational efficiency. One such area of operation is the Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET). The evaluation provides valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the lecturer’s
teaching methods, the quality of their instruction, and their overall impact on students' learning experiences. The University of Zambia Senate at its sitting on 5th December 2014, resolved to implement regular campus-wide Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) having recognized the fact that SET was an important component of the quality assurance system in any higher education institution.
Some key reasons why student evaluation of teaching is considered important are:
- Quality improvement: Student feedback helps instructors identify areas where they can improve their teaching methods, materials, and communication with students. This continuous improvement process can lead to better learning experiences and educational outcomes.
- Accountability: Student evaluations hold instructors accountable for their performance in the classroom. Administrators and educational institutions can use these evaluations as one measure of teacher effectiveness when making staff appraisal and re-employment decisions.
- Insight into learning experiences: Student evaluations provide insights into students' perspectives on their learning experiences. They can reveal whether students feel engaged, challenged, and supported in their educational journey.
- Curriculum review and development: Feedback from students can inform curriculum development and revisions. If multiple students consistently report challenges with certain topics or materials, it may signal a need for curriculum adjustments.
- Student-lecturer collaboration: SET fosters a collaborative environment where students and teachers work together to create an optimal learning environment.
- Lecturer-student communication: These evaluations can highlight the effectiveness of a lecturer’s communication skills. Effective communication is crucial for conveying information and fostering a positive learning environment.
- Motivation and engagement: When students feel their opinions are valued, they may become more motivated and engaged in the learning process. Knowing their feedback can influence the course and the instructor's approach can lead to more active participation and improved learning.
- Fairness and inclusivity: Student evaluations can help identify potential biases or disparities in teaching. Instructors can use this feedback to ensure they are creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
- Measuring learning outcomes: While not the only measure, student evaluations can provide some insight into whether students are achieving the intended learning outcomes of a course or not. After a successful trial run of SET in 2023, University management has approved the rolling out of SET for all courses on all regular programmes. This will be done twice a year during any academic year just before the mid-year and end-of-year examinations. The activity will start this academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about SET or what SET is not about:
1. What is Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET)?
Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) is a process where students provide feedback on their instructors' teaching methods, course materials, and overall teaching effectiveness. It is a common practice in educational institutions to assess and improve the quality of teaching and learning
2. Why is SET conducted?
SETs is conducted to gather feedback from students to help the University improve teaching methods and course content. It also plays a role in faculty evaluations, promotions, and tenure decisions.
3. Is SET anonymous?
Yes, SET is totally confidential and anonymous:
- The results come already aggregated without an indication of the name or any connection to individual respondents;
- Access to SET is by email and not by respondent’s name;
4. How objective is SET?
Students are sensitized to be honest, fair and unbiased in their responses. Results are averaged thereby reducing biases.
5. Is student evaluation in SET per course or per lecturer? SET anonymous?
Student evaluation in a given course is per lecturer, e.g. if a course is taught by two different lecturers, a student taking this course has to provide responses on each individual lecturer
6. How many times is SET in an academic year?
Each course is only assessed once in an academic year
7. Is SET compulsory for students?
Yes, SET is compulsory for all undergraduate students. Undergraduate students will not be issued with examination slips, thus cannot sit for examinations if they have not completed SET for all their courses (including courses being repeated) in that academic year
8. What kind of questions are in the SET questionnaire?
Areas covered by the SET questionnaire include such areas as: course objectives, lecturer’s knowledge of the subject matter and timely feedback on course assignments and tasks.
9. What SET is not about?
SET is not for fault finding nor punishing the student or lecturer. It’s about providing feedback in order to improve teaching and learning.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a contribution to shaping the university learning experience for all. Come on and have your say in the teaching and learning in your courses of study!