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Show Signpost -Tuesday. May 1, 1984 IDEA System Will Be Used To Evaluate Instructors This Spring by Shirley Parker Staff Reporter A pilot program for student evaluation of instruction, which uses a nationally validated system, will be administered on the WSC campus during the last two weeks of Spring Quarter. Funds have been made available for approximately one class per department to use the IDEA system from the Center for Faculty Evaluation and Development, Kansas State University. It has already been tested in over 70,000 classrooms, according to Dr. Patricia P. Henry, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Documenting Teaching Excellence.The Ad Hoc Committee on Documenting Teaching Excellence was established at the end of Fall Quarter, 1983. It works closely with the Faculty Senate, with very strong support from the administration, said Henry. Its goal is to do a campus-wide documentation of teaching excellence comprising three items: student ratings, peer evaluation, and self-evaluation. Henry said, "The committee wants a student rating form that will not only offer a comparison between intructors but will also be helpful to the instructor in assessing teaching style and actual classroom techniques." If a particular item will not be applicable in a certain class, it can be so marked, she said. The subcommittee investigating the feasibility and cost of using a standardized, externally developed system or an internally developed system will report to the full committee on May 9. A recommendation for a campus-wide system will then be made to the Faculty Senate which must approve it. A second subcommittee is studying options for department-based approaches to teaching improvement. Relevant training needs will be identified, costs and feasibility assessed, and proposals will be offered for campus-wide consideration. A preliminary report will also be presented at the May 9 meeting. Henry reports her committee's findings to President Rodney H. Brady through serving on his Task Force on the Image of the College Professor. After the evaluation, the faculty member will receive all data from the class being rated and the information from all pilot classes will be examined by the Committee. Any faculty member wishing to have one of his or her classes compared to similar classes using a national database is invited to contact Lon Addams (6111), Pat Henry (6098) or Judy For-sgren (6233). All faculty and students are encouraged to participate in the Ad Hoc Committee meetings. The next is scheduled for May 9 at 2:15 p.m., in the Wat- tis Business Building, Room 111. If you cannot attend but wish to make your views known, please contact a committee member ahead of time. The twelve members of the committee represent the seven schools, as well as adminstration, the library, the deans' council and the student body. They are as follows: Pat Henry (Arts and Humanities), Lon Addams (Business), Sally Arway (Library), Hayle Buchanan (Natural Sciences), Luan Ferrin (Education), Richard Jones (Deans' Council), Kathy Lukken (Allied Health), Dan Litchford (Technology), Don McCormick (Social Sciences), Robert Smith (Administration), and Lisa Hurtado and Bart Stevens (student body). Computer Writing Conference Sponsored by Steve Fifield Senior Reporter The Weber State College Division of Counti-nuing Education, in conjunction with the English department computer writing lab, is sponsoring a conference on computer writing. The Western States Conference on Computer Assisted Writing will be held in the Union Building May 2-4. The conference will feature lectures, discussions and presentations by "key people from throughout the nation," according to Barbara West, director of the computer witing lab. West said, This will be a nuts and bolts conference, they (the speakers) will be telling us what programs and systems they have (worked on at their facilities). They'll tell us the strengths, weaknesses and progress." West said that Dr. Sherwin Howard, dean EASfl BIEGB 2 for 1 4387 Harrison Blvd. Buy one Casa Diego Luncheon Combo and get .! r r: I U COCCf anotner L.asa uiegu luhlucuu -umiuu i ivll. Hours rn nnnH nnil A8 1QS1 Mon.-Thurs. Lunch 1 1 a.m.-3:30 p.m. wupunyuuu unuiiuaju, .-r Dinner 4:30-10 p.m. Only good for lunch n a.m.-J p.m. Fri. Sat. 4:30-11 p.m. Datalife. The name is the promise. The warranty is the proof. I )Yi Yi 1 1 1 Sr-i pv..-? vM? Tj!T!Zr ii mmmmm in m Preserving your data is vitally important. Lose it and you've lost both time and money. 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West said that over 100 people from all over the west will attend the conference. She said that Weber State students are welcome to attend also. Interested students should obtain a tuition, waiver card from their department. The card should be signed by the department head and then delivered to West, in SS 303. Bkumttly 3 iHomestly No one sells DIAMONDS at better prices than FARRS. If your diamond does not appraise in writing (within 30 days of purchase) for AT LEAST 40 more than your purchase price, your money will be refunded. 2434 Washington Blvd. Open 'til 9:00 on Fridays In Store Goldsmith Movie Discount Tickets |