Comments in course evaluations

[Liquidambar]

I couldn't find a general thread for comments from course evaluations.  I had to make one to share the following from my flipped class...

The student wrote that when I wasn't wandering around answering student questions, I would "just sit languidly in front."

[dismalist]

Ages ago, I got a comment on an evaluation in a required course: This is the worst course I ever took. I don't think it's dismalist's fault. Nobody wants to be here.

That's when I stopped reading teaching evaluations.

[Liquidambar]

My evaluations are frequently unhelpful, but this set was worth reading.  Two students pointed out that their term project was something they hadn't done start-to-finish before.  I felt like I'd taught them all the pieces, so it's useful to know that they feel this way.  (One time they finished a basket I started, and another time they started a basket that I didn't make them finish, and another time they hauled water in a basket I made.  That's not the same as making an entire basket yourself, trying to put water in it, and realizing that it leaks.)

The "just sits languidly in front" comment was pure gold, though.  I kind of want that on a t-shirt.

[Caracal]

I couldn't find a general thread for comments from course evaluations.  I had to make one to share the following from my flipped class...

The student wrote that when I wasn't wandering around answering student questions, I would "just sit languidly in front."

Sounds sexy...

[mythbuster]

I'm imagining a divan, or fainting couch in one corner of the classroom. Love it.

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

I'm imagining a divan, or fainting couch in one corner of the classroom. Love it.

I was just thinking this! :D

[Antiphon1]

I want your classroom seating.  The chairs in our rooms range from uncomfortable to untenable. 

As to paying attention to student comments in class evals, just don't. You're either a saint or worst sort of sneaker sole scum.  Besides, college students have the attention span of an earthworm when filling out those forms.  You could have saved the world five minutes ago and still get a crappy comment if that student's stimuli momentarily goes negative.  Opinions are notoriously transitory and unreliable.  More or less the eyewitnesses of feedback.  I don't read Yelp, either. 

[jimbogumbo]

In grad school my office mate (who got very good evaluations) had one student comment that said "Blank should never be allowed to teach again". He put it up on our office wall.