Evaluations

Evaluation of Student Performance

Percent of Grade Exercise
20% Class participation/TA evaluation which includes: 
  • Turning in module case study answers each week. (Please Note you will not be given individual grades on your case study answers. However comments on your answers will be returned to you by your TA)
(See TA evaluation criteria)
20% Peer evaluations by your team members. (See Peer evaluation criteria)
5% Self evaluations (See Self evaluation criteria
30 % Two Exams
25% Written paper
100% Total -THERE IS NO FINAL EXAM IN THIS COURSE

    TA Evaluation Criteria 

Teaching assistants will assign a grade to students based on class participation. This evaluation will be both qualitative and quantitative and will be based on written criteria provided below.  This evaluation is  related to the performance and contribution of individuals as team members. TAs will give graded evaluations to their students twice during the semester, but only the second grade will count towards the student's final grade. (Check Schedule for dates)

Instructions: (For TA)

  • First TA evaluation.
1. For each of your students, please consider the criteria in Table 1 below.
2. Give each of your students feedback on which criteria they have done well and which criteria that they need to improve upon.
3. Assign a grade to each student based on their performance so far.  Remember, this first grade does not count and is not averaged with the second TA evaluation grade.  This grade gives the student a chance to improve their performance if necessary.  Use the grading scale (H, H-, P+, P, P-, L) or (A, A-, B+,B, B-, C+, C etc). 
4.   Upload a confidential written report to each student on the student's personal web space.
  • Second TA evaluation.
1. For each of your students, please consider the criteria in Table 1 below.
2. Give each of your students feedback on which criteria they have done well on and which criteria that they have not improved upon.
3. Assign a grade to each student based on their performance since the first peer evaluation. Use the grading scale (H, H-, P+, P, P-, L) or (A, A-, B+,B, B-, C+, C etc). 
4.   Upload a confidential written report to each student on the student's personal web space.
 
 
 
Table 1

The following lists the quantitative criteria the TAs will use when evaluation student performance.

1. Does this student regularly participate in the discussion forums?

2. Student completes and turns in case study answers to TA. A student must turn in their answers to at least 75% of those case studies where answers are required to be handed-in to get a P for this part of their TA evaluation grade. 
 
 

The following lists the qualitative criteria the TAs will use when evaluating student performance.

1. Does this student make good quality contributions to the discussion forums?

2.  Sought extra knowledge for and added creatively to the discussion forums.

3. Does this student support other members of the team by showing a willingness to listen to and value the opinions of others on the discussion forums? 

4. Does this student carry out well his/her chosen function as discussion forum leader? 

5.Does this student turn in good quality case study answers? 


 

    Peer Evaluation Criteria 

Twice during the semester, you will be asked to critique the performance of other members of his/her team. (Check Schedule for dates). This critique will be both qualitative and quantitative and will be based on written criteria (provided to all students) related to the performance and contribution of individuals as team members. The peer evaluations from other members of the team will be summarized by the TA and given to each student in confidence. These evaluations will be made twice in order to let the student know how he/she is functioning as a team member and to allow opportunity for growth as a member of a professional team. 

The purposes of the peer evaluations are: (1) To provide you with a way to express your opinion about how other students in your team are performing, and (2) To provide you with feedback about your own performance in the group. The faculty and TAs feel that this is an important component of the class because you can provide the most accurate assessment of your team members' contributions to the group effort. Also, peer evaluation is an important function that you will be required to perform throughout your professional careers. 

In the first and second peer evaluations, you will be asked to provide qualitative feedback about team members' performance in the exercises done so far. In the second evaluation, you will also be using a grade scale to evaluate your team members. Assign each team member an overall grade based on the criteria provided.  Please remember that these peer evaluations are provided to you as a way to improve, your contribution to your team. You will be doing two peer evaluations during the semester, allowing you to improve your performance if necessary. 

Instructions (For Students):

  • First peer evaluation.
1. Go to the automatic First peer evaluation form found linked on the module path.
2. For each of your fellow students, please consider the criteria in Table 2 below.
3. Give each of your fellow students feedback on which criteria they have done well and which criteria that they need to improve upon.
4.   Send in your completed form to each your TA on the due date of this assignment. 
  • Second peer evaluation.
1. Go to the automatic Second peer evaluation form found linked on the module path.
2. For each of your fellow students, please consider the criteria in Table 2 below.
3. Give each of your fellow students feedback on which criteria they have done well on and which criteria that they have not improved upon.
4. Assign a grade to each student using the grading scale (Graduate scale: H, H-, P+, P, P-, L) or (Under graduate scale: A, A-, B+,B, B-, C+, C etc) 
5.   Send in your completed form to each your TA on the due date of this assignment. 

Instructions for TAs:

1. Read over all evaluations carefully. 
2. Summarize evaluations for each student in a written report. 
3. Upload this confidential written report to each student's personal server space.
4. For the second peer evaluation, average the grades given to each student. 
 
 
Table 2. Criteria for both the first and second peer evaluations

1. Does this student regularly participate in the discussion forums?

2. Does this student make good quality contributions to the discussion forums?

3.  Sought extra knowledge for and added creatively to the discussion forums.

4. Does this student support other members of the team by showing a willingness to listen to and value the opinions of others on the discussion forums? 

5. Does this student carry out well his/her chosen function as discussion forum leader? (Leave this unchecked if the student has not be discussion forum leader yet.)


 

    Self Evaluation Criteria

(THE UNC HONOR CODE APPLIES HERE). (Check Schedule for dates)

Instructions: (For students):

1. Go to the automatic Self Evaluation Form found on the module path.
2. Please read over the following criteria in Table 3 for evaluating your performance in the course over the semester. 
3. Determine which statements reflect your effort/achievement for the semester. 
4. Give yourself a grade based on this performance using the grading criteria located at the bottom of Table 3. 
5. Sign the honor code and give it to your TA on the day it's due date. 

Please Note: The faculty retains veto power over final grade selections.
 
Table 3.   Self evaluation criteria 

1. You have turned in at least 8 of the case study assignments and did ALL the required reading or You have turned in at least 10 of the case study assignments and did MOST of the required reading. 

2. Participated actively in all the internet discussion forums. 

3. You have carried out your function as discussion forum leader well.

4. You have turned in at least 10 of the case study assignments and did ALL the required reading. 

5.    Sought extra knowledge for and added creatively to the internet discussions. 

6.    Made more than average effort throughout the course. 
 

(A)/(H) = Did all of the above. 
(B)/(P) = Did at least numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 above 
(C)/(L) = Did number 1 and 2 or 1 and 4 or did less than number 1 (i.e. did not turn in more than 4 case study assignments) and did both 2 and 4.

Internet Discussion Forums

In addition to the case study questions described above each module there will have a weekly internet discussion forum question. Typically a forum will last for 7 days.  (See Schedule for opening and closing dates for each forum). All students are also required to participate in their group's  discussion forum.  Students are encouraged to draw upon their own life and work experiences when posting replies to the discussion forum. Students are also encouraged to use the library and the resources of the Internet in providing links to subject matter related to the topic of each discussion forum.
The overall objective of the weekly discussion forum is to be able to solve epidemiologic problems in the group, with other group members assisting you in applying critical thinking skills. You will learn to question your own assumptions and identify the role values play in decision making. You will find that group answers are generally superior to your own individual answers, and the group experience will expand your understanding of the topic. The Operational Goals of the Discussion Forums are to: To head toward group consensus and/or To identify several distinct positions which are legitimate, based on the facts.

  •  Discussion Forum Leader

When it is your turn to be Discussion Forum Leader, you are expected to:

1. Start the forum discussion. Read the discussion forum question for the Module. It can be found linked on each module's path. Your TA will post the weekly forum question to your group's discussion forum.  Add your comments or basis for the need for discussion. The more you can focus the issue for discussion, the better.

2. Read all comments at least once a day and moderate the discussion by summarizing and tying together various  positions and identifying various distinctly different positions. After several days of discussion, help the group reach consensus if possible.

3. Post any final comments after seeing the Suggested Answer which will be posted by your TA at the end of the discussion forum period.

  • TA Responsibilities - Discussion Forum

The Teaching Assistant will:

1. Post the Discussion forum question for the session and act as a consult to the Forum Leader in starting the Discussion Forum.

2. Read all comments in the Discussion Forum at least once a day, refocusing the discussion as needed, pointing out facts and issues the group may not be considering, or suggesting the group consider additional points.

3. Help group members distinguish facts from assumptions, opinion, and values statements.

4. Provide additional suggestions and guidance as needed.

5. Contact the Instructor with problems and concerns.

6. Keep track of all postings.