Assessment of non-time-intensive changes to a management course to address course evaluation scores

Background

Student-completed course evaluations are often included in university faculty promotion and tenure packets but may not be the best metrics for student learning. This juxtaposition creates a challenge - the metric faculty first want to improve is student learning rather than student perception, but course changes improving student learning do not always result in higher course evaluation scores. Additionally, making course changes can be time consuming for faculty. The objective of this project was to assess the changes made to a course, the time spent making those changes, and the impact of the changes on course evaluation scores and student performance.

Educational activity

A single course focused on management with a business plan as the primary course project was revised in Fall 2023; the goal of revisions was to address poor course evaluation scores and negative student perceptions of the course in as little faculty time as possible while maintaining quality of student work. Primary changes centered around the business plan project and a shift in course communication. Evaluation of the changes occurred through mid-semester survey and discussion and end-of-semester survey for the 2023 cohort, and comparing course evaluations and student work products between the 2022 and 2023 cohorts.

Critical analysis of the educational activity

Course evaluation scores were improved and student feedback was more positive for the revised Fall 2023 course. The implemented changes did not negatively affect student performance as quality of the business plan project was maintained across both semesters. Instructor transparency and responsiveness through the mid-semester survey and discussion may have positively influenced course evaluations scores. Overall, the course changes did not take a significant amount of faculty time, but the desired outcome of improving course evaluation scores was recognized.