Reconceptualizing student evaluation of teaching: an ethical framework for changing times

Abstract

Conversations about student evaluation of teaching are longstanding. Ethical principles in university teaching have been suggested. However, conversations that bring together the topics of ethics, teaching and student evaluation of that teaching are rare. New expectations in relation to the evaluation of teaching, for example, expectations about the role of evaluation of teaching in promotion and probation and about the public availability of student evaluation results on institution web sites, require a reconceptualization of evaluation of teaching policies and practice at many Australian universities. It is timely then, to present the issues raised (privacy, consent, interpretation, authorship and ownership, and accessibility) and the guidelines for practice that emerged from a series of conversations begun with a focus on the ethics of online student evaluation of online teaching. The outcome of conversations, an ethical framework for student evaluation of teaching, suggests a set of values, principles and practices to guide both individuals and institutions in relation to student evaluation of teaching in these changing times.