Right in the middle instead of just afterwards

H-BRS wants to optimise its teaching with a new evaluation tool

Teaching Analysis Poll – TAP for short – is the new system for evaluating courses at H-BRS. Introduced in winter semester 2021/22 by the Centre for Teaching Development and Innovation (ZIEL), TAP further develops the topic of teaching evaluation. Unlike classic evaluation methods, where students evaluate their seminars, lectures and courses at the end of each semester, TAP starts much earlier. “Since it is already used during the semester, it helps to identify factors that promote and hinder learning at an early stage,” says Alexandra Reher, research associate at ZIEL.

Three questions teacher. “It is important that the teacher discuss the results with the students afterwards, so that the intensive feedback from the students is also reflected upon,” explains Reher.

Demand doubled

Evaluate and debate: Students appreciate the new evaluation system TAP.

Another special feature: the evaluation itself takes place without the teacher. Instead trained moderators from ZIEL accompany the process. The Teaching Analysis Poll follows a set pattern. After the teacher has left the room, the moderator asks the students three crucial questions. What do you learn most from in this course? What hinders your learning in this course? What suggestions for improvement do you have for these hindrances and for the course in general? Afterwards, the results are discussed in a plenary session – the moderator takes meeting minutes, formulates a majority opinion and hands the anonymised results over to the

TAP is very well received by the teachers, reports the research associate: “We started with six TAPs in winter semester 2021/22 as a pilot project. It was so welcomed that demand doubled the following semester. Since then, it has been a popular and well-established tool.” The students are also enthusiastic: “Their feedback is consistently positive. They appreciate the interactive exchange with the teacher. Even though it is more time-consuming than a questionnaire survey, the students find TAP efficient and useful.”

Overall, it is an excellent method for promoting the further development of teaching. “Especially when new teaching methods are used, they can be refined or developed further in a targeted manner,” says Alexandra Reher.