What impacts course evaluation?

ABSTRACT

Today most universities are using course evaluations. However, course evaluations are often discussed and questioned. This paper reports on a survey where we aim at finding out (1) if students have a preconceived notion of a course, (2) if course evaluation scores can be predicted early in a course, (3) if exam throughput impacts course evaluation, and (4) if web-based evaluation reflects the general opinion from students. The results from the study indicate that students do not let preconceived notion impact nor does exam throughput matter to course evaluation. Further, the final web-based results seem to correlate with opinion of students attending lectures. However, the evaluation grades tend to be defined early in the course; hence first impression lasts.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.0 General

General Terms:
Performance

Keywords:
course evaluation, course grading