High/Low Impact on SET
Aspects of Teaching
Summary of the Importance of Various Aspects of Teaching Based on Student Ratings
High Importance
- Clarity and understandableness
- Teacher’s stimulation of interest in the course and its perceived subject matter
- Perceived outcome or impact of instruction
- Teacher’s preparation: Organization of the course
- Teacher pursued and/or met course objectives
- Teacher motivates students to do their best—high standard of performance required
Moderate Importance
- Clarity of course objectives and requirements
- Teacher’s sensitivity to, and concern with, class level and progress
- Teacher’s encouragement of questions and discussions, and openness to opinions of others
- Intellectual challenge and encouragement of independent thought
- Teacher’s elocutionary skills
- Teacher’s knowledge of the subject
- Teacher’s enthusiasm for the subject
- Teacher’s availability and helpfulness
Moderate-to –Low Importance
- Teacher’s fairness/Impartiality of evaluation of students/Quality of examinations
- Teacher’s concern and respect for students: Friendliness of teacher
- Classroom management
- Personality characteristics (“personality”) of the teacher
- Pleasantness of classroom atmosphere
Low Importance or No Importance
- Nature and value of the course (including its usefulness and relevance)
- Nature, quality, and frequency of feedback from the teacher to the student
- Nature and usefulness of supplementary materials and teaching aids
- Difficulty of the course and workload
Feldman, Kenneth A. “Identifying Exemplary Teachers and Teaching: Evidence from Student Ratings.” In
R. P. Perry and J. C. Smart (Eds). Higher Education: An Evidence-Based Perspective. New York: Springer, 2007. 93-129.