Abstract

Survey-based evaluation has its limitations yet people often resort to this as a way to assess effectiveness. However, evaluation can be a much more positive, creative and meaningful process for both students and staff. This workshop, developed from academic research into evaluation and capturing student voice, offers you a space to design an evaluation for something – whether a short intervention or a whole unit or journey, making use of creative and collaborative approaches to getting student feedback. Gathering robust evidence in this way helps you understand what works, to iterate, share and celebrate, so developing pedagogic practice.

Session and activities

This interactive workshop will open with a brief summary of key theories around evaluation and student voice – with a focus on evaluation for quality assurance and learning. It will introduce concepts of evaluation as part of pedagogic practice for understanding what does and doesn’t work – as well as explore how evaluation can be a positive experience for both staff and students.

The main part of the workshop will focus on presenting a framework for evaluation (tested in the media school, LCC) based on the approach presented in my blog  https://positiveevaluation.myblog.arts.ac.uk/. In particular it will explore creative approaches to capturing student voice (from collaborative unit mapping to advice cards)

All participants should have an example of something they may do next term – big or small – for which they could develop an evaluation.

We will go through planning for the following:

Step 1 – Research question and key themes (eg researching engagement? Or attainment etc.)

Step 2 – Data collection – choosing touchpoints with students as well as drawing in existing data – Introducing creative tools that participants can adapt

Step 3 – planning for analysing mixed data sets and how to draw it all together as sound evaluative evidence ready for sharing

The aim is to show, from my research, how this sort of evaluation is impactful and robust. At the end participants should have a clear evaluation design that should be easy to implement, while providing granular information for their teaching practice.

Opportunities for discussions throughout the workshop will help us consider ways to be creative, adapt tools, share specific challenges and think about our evolving practice together. Evaluation can form a positive part of this process.