Student Evaluations
Rutgers University students evaluate instructors on a 5 point scale, with 5 being the most positive. For the courses in which I have been evaluated (General Biology, Invertebrate Zoology, Ecology & Evolution of the Jersey Shore), my mean overall effectiveness score is 4.6 (n=5, stdev=0.3)**. While these positive ratings place me above my peers, I know that there is always room for improvement. I use my students’ feedback in a systematic effort to develop my teaching. For instance, my early evaluations for General Biology indicated that I rushed through the pre-lab discussions. Since then I have made a conscious effort to slow down during the pre-lab presentation, and always follow each major topic with a period for questions and clarification. In seeking feedback from my students, I not only improve my classroom approach, but I also cultivate a learning community. As part of this community, my students work with each other in a supportive environment where they are able to develop effective lifelong learning habits.
*Representative examples of my course syllabi can be found here
**All evaluations are available by request