Evaluations at Waikato

Types of evaluation

Paper evaluations

Include the university’s core paper evaluation questions (seven Likert scale questions and two open text comment boxes)
Convenors can add up to eight extra questions to the paper evaluation
Must be conducted at least every second occurrence of a paper
To maintain confidentiality, evaluations are not automatically generated for papers with fewer than six students enrolled
- Convenors can opt-in by notifying the Evaluation Team at least one week before the start of the customisation period

Individual teacher evaluations

Generated for any paper they are linked to in the evaluation system (i.e. paper is not opted out, has more than six students and is a taught paper)
Include the university’s core teaching evaluation questions (seven Likert scale questions and two open text comment boxes)
Each teacher can add up to eight extra questions to the teaching evaluation
Each teacher can opt-out of the evaluation:
- Every second occurrence of a paper if they wish (See the University’s Evaluation of Teaching and Papers Policy)
- In consultation with the Programme Convenor and/or Chair of Department/School, and with other teaching staff linked to the paper.

Timing of evaluations

End-of-semester

Paper Convenors can select the date the evaluation is open to students from within the default date range. The default date range is typically 6 weeks, if Convenors do not select alternative dates, the evaluation will be open for the entire default date range period.

Major semesters (A, B, S & T)

- About three weeks before the last day of teaching:
  - Evaluations are opened to teaching staff
  - Staff receive an email inviting them to customise their evaluations, or opt-out from having an evaluation conducted
- About one week before the last day of teaching:
  - Customisation is closed to staff
  - Evaluations are opened for students (unless the Paper Convenor has changed the default start date)

Minor semesters (mainly C)
- Evaluations are generated for groups of papers that have similar teaching periods in Jade SMS.
- Teachers typically have about two weeks to customise their evaluations after which the customisation period is closed and evaluations are opened to students.

Mid-semester

Individual teachers who only teach during the first half of a semester may request an official mid-semester evaluation.
- Teaching staff must consult with the paper convenor
- Notify the Evaluation Team by the end of the second week of the semester
Teaching staff who had a mid-semester evaluation are not included in the end-of-semester evaluation.
The teacher is eligible to receive the report for the end of semester paper evaluation.

Blue

Blue is the University of Waikato’s evaluation software.

Web-based: staff and students can access evaluations from anywhere.
Students:
- Receive emails and other notifications asking them to evaluate their papers
- Provide online feedback during the evaluation period
Teaching staff:
- Receive an email advising them to customise their evaluations
- Customise evaluations before they are opened to students (no changes are permitted afterwards)
- Receive detailed reports after student grades are finalised
Only teachers associated with papers in Jade SMS are included in official evaluations. Departmental administrators must ensure that all teaching occurrences and associated teaching staff have been correctly entered into the Staff Role/Paper Association Tool.

Evaluation reports

Emailed to teachers after student grades are finalised.
Individual paper and teaching reports include a frequency response table, the median, mode, and a top-box percentage for each question.
Each academic staff member’s Academic Staff Portfolio is auto-populated with the results from question seven in both their paper and teaching evaluations (Overall, this paper provided me with a good learning experience and Overall, this teacher assisted my learning).
For assistance understanding evaluation reports or developing your teaching, please contact the Evaluations team.