Student Perceptions of Great Teaching A Qualitative Analysis
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Published:
Oct 8, 2021
Keywords:
teaching awards, exemplary teaching, student perceptions of teaching excellence
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Abstract
What behaviors do students consider as representative of exemplary teaching? Do those representations vary by context? This study evaluates 176 student nominations for a teaching award that asked nominators to articulate specific acts by individual instructors that exemplify “great teaching.” Through an iterative process, our content analysis identified 10 themes, which generally represent socioemotional connection, behaviors relevant to student learning, and instructor characteristics. We also identified two themes—the instructor as a model and as someone whose efforts exceed expectations—that do not appear frequently in existing literature. The quantitative analysis revealed that frequency of themes differed for instructors from traditional liberal arts and sciences disciplines and those from professional programs in the health sciences.
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Bledsoe, R. S., Richardson, D. S., & Kalle, A. (2021). Student Perceptions of Great Teaching: A Qualitative Analysis. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.14434/josotl.v21i3.30661
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References
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Catano, V. M., & Harvey, S. (2011). Student perception of teaching effectiveness: Development and validation of the Evaluation of Teaching Competencies Scale (ETCS). Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 36, 701-717. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2010.484879
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Cuseo, J. (2018). Student–faculty engagement. New Directions for Teaching & Learning, 154, 87–97. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.20294
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Hativa, N., Barak, R., & Simhi, E. (2001). Exemplary university teachers: Knowledge and beliefs regarding effective teaching dimensions and strategies. The Journal of Higher Education 72, 699-729. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2001.11777122
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Lowman, J. (1995). Mastering the techniques of teaching (2nd edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Marsh, H. W., & Dunkin, M. J. (1997). Students' evaluations of university teaching: A multidimensional perspective. In R. P. Perry & J. C. Smart (Eds.) Effective teaching in higher education (pp. 241-320). New York: Agathon.
Marsh, H.W., & Roche, L. A. (1997). Making students’ evaluations of teaching effectiveness effective. American Psychologist, 52, 1187–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.52.11.1187
Neumann, R. (2001) Disciplinary differences and university teaching. Studies in Higher Education, 26:2, 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070120052071
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Özgüngor, S. S., & Duru, E. E. (2015). Course and instructor characteristics distinguishing highest and lowest student ratings of instructors. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research (EJER), 61, 118-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2015.61.7
Roth, J. K. (Ed.). (1997). Inspiring teaching: Carnegie Professors of the Year speak. Bolton, MA: Anker.
Simendinger, E., El-Kassar, A. A., Gonzalez-Perez, M. A., Crawford, J., Thomason, S., Reynet, P., Kjellander, B, & Edwards, J. (2017). Teaching effectiveness attributes in business schools. International Journal of Educational Management, 31, 780-800. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-05-2016-0108
Slate, J. R., LaPrairie, K. N., Schulte, D. P., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2011). Views of effective college faculty: A mixed analysis. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 36, 331-346. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930903428684
Yoo, J. H., Schallert, D. L., & Svinicki, M. D. (2013). Effective teaching in an age of accountability: Mapping the views of college students and instructors. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 24, 107-131. http://celt.muohio.edu/ject/issue.php?v=24&n=4
Young, S., & Shaw, D. G. (1999). Profiles of Effective College and University Teachers. The Journal of Higher Education, 70, 670-686. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1999.11780803
Al-Mohaimeed, A. A., & Khan, N. Z. (2014). Perceptions of Saudi medical students on the qualities of effective teachers: A cross-sectional study. Saudi Medical Journal, 35, 183–188.
Bail, F. T., & Mina, S. S. (1981). Filipino and American student perceptions of teacher effectiveness. Research in Higher Education, 14, 135-145. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00976290
Bain, K. (2004). What the Best College Teachers Do. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP.
Boice, R. (1996). First order principles for college teachers: Ten basic ways to improve the teaching process. Bolton, MA: Anker.
Buskist, W., Sikorski, J., Buckley, T., & Saville, B. K. (2002). Elements of master teaching. In S. F. Davis & W. Buskist (Eds.). The teaching of psychology: Essays in honor of Wilbert J. McKeachie and Charles L Brewer (pp. 27-39). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Catano, V. M., & Harvey, S. (2011). Student perception of teaching effectiveness: Development and validation of the Evaluation of Teaching Competencies Scale (ETCS). Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 36, 701-717. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2010.484879
Cohen, P.A. (1981). Student ratings of instruction and student achievement: A meta-analysis of multisection validity. Review of Educational Research, 51, 281–309. https://doi.org/10.3102%2F00346543051003281
Cuseo, J. (2018). Student–faculty engagement. New Directions for Teaching & Learning, 154, 87–97. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.20294
Devlin, M., & Samarawickrema, G. (2010). The criteria of effective teaching in a changing higher education context. Higher Education Research & Development, 29, 111-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360903244398
Feldman, K. A. (1976). The superior college teacher from the student’s view. Research in Higher Education, 5, 243–288. https:// doi/10.1007/BF00991967
Fulton, W. (1996). How can we use course evaluations to improve teaching and the curriculum? (as cited in Catano & Harvey, 2011).
Hativa, N., Barak, R., & Simhi, E. (2001). Exemplary university teachers: Knowledge and beliefs regarding effective teaching dimensions and strategies. The Journal of Higher Education 72, 699-729. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2001.11777122
Keeley, J., Christopher, A. N., & Buskist, W. (2012). Emerging evidence for excellent teaching across borders. In Groccia, J. E., Alsudairi, M. T., & Buskist, W. (Eds.). Handbook of college and university teaching: A global perspective (pp. 374-390). Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412996891.n24
Keeley, J., Smith, D., & Buskist, W. (2006). The Teacher Behaviors Checklist: Factor analysis of its utility for evaluating teaching. Teaching of Psychology, 33, 84-91. https://doi.org/10.1207%2Fs15328023top3302_1
Lindblom‐Ylänne, S., Trigwell, K., Nevgi, A., & Ashwin, P. (2006). How approaches to teaching are affected by discipline and teaching context. Studies in Higher Education, 31:3, 285-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070600680539
Lowman, J. (1995). Mastering the techniques of teaching (2nd edition). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Marsh, H. W., & Dunkin, M. J. (1997). Students' evaluations of university teaching: A multidimensional perspective. In R. P. Perry & J. C. Smart (Eds.) Effective teaching in higher education (pp. 241-320). New York: Agathon.
Marsh, H.W., & Roche, L. A. (1997). Making students’ evaluations of teaching effectiveness effective. American Psychologist, 52, 1187–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.52.11.1187
Neumann, R. (2001) Disciplinary differences and university teaching. Studies in Higher Education, 26:2, 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070120052071
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Witcher, A. E., Collins, K. M. T., Filer, J. D., Wiedmaier, C. D., & Moore, C. W. (2007). Students’ perceptions of characteristics of effective college teachers: A validity study of a teaching evaluation form using a mixed-methods analysis. American Educational Research Journal, 44, 113–160. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831206298169
Özgüngor, S. S., & Duru, E. E. (2015). Course and instructor characteristics distinguishing highest and lowest student ratings of instructors. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research (EJER), 61, 118-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.14689/ejer.2015.61.7
Roth, J. K. (Ed.). (1997). Inspiring teaching: Carnegie Professors of the Year speak. Bolton, MA: Anker.
Simendinger, E., El-Kassar, A. A., Gonzalez-Perez, M. A., Crawford, J., Thomason, S., Reynet, P., Kjellander, B, & Edwards, J. (2017). Teaching effectiveness attributes in business schools. International Journal of Educational Management, 31, 780-800. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-05-2016-0108
Slate, J. R., LaPrairie, K. N., Schulte, D. P., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2011). Views of effective college faculty: A mixed analysis. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 36, 331-346. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602930903428684
Yoo, J. H., Schallert, D. L., & Svinicki, M. D. (2013). Effective teaching in an age of accountability: Mapping the views of college students and instructors. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 24, 107-131. http://celt.muohio.edu/ject/issue.php?v=24&n=4
Young, S., & Shaw, D. G. (1999). Profiles of Effective College and University Teachers. The Journal of Higher Education, 70, 670-686. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.1999.11780803