Policy Statement

The University of Western Australia strongly endorses the use of the Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) service provided through CATL, while not seeing it as appropriate that use of the service be made mandatory for all academic staff.

SPOT services are seen as a key component in academic staff development leading to enhanced quality of teaching and learning at the University.

SPOT services can be used for both summative and formative purposes. Typically summative student ratings are conducted towards the end of a block of teaching and will be used by staff, along with other evidence, to support their application for promotion or for appointment to a position. Formative student ratings may be obtained during, or near the end of, a block of teaching, principally for the purpose of confirming teaching strengths and identifying weaknesses so that a better learning environment can be provided for students in the future, ie. later in the unit/course or when the unit/course is next presented.

The SPOT system has been designed to provide a valid and reliable format for customising ratings forms to suit a variety of needs. The available item bank allows an instrument to be created that will address an individual teacher's situation and requirements.

As a staff development activity, SPOT has not been designed to allow a comparison of teaching quality between one academic and another. Taken in isolation from other information, it is not an effective instrument for use by a third party for the detection of bad teaching. All academic staff of the University are encouraged to use SPOT, to confirm and/or enhance the quality of their own teaching.

For SPOT to be used constructively by individual academic staff for the confirmation of good teaching or as a guide to assist them in the improvement of their teaching, SPOT ratings are initiated at the request of individual staff members teaching particular classes. Confidential reports are provided only to the teacher making the request, unless there is a signed release on the SPOT order forms. CATL does not initiate evaluations, or provide reports for third parties, unless prior agreement has been reached between all the staff concerned. With the consent of the staff concerned, in a group teaching situation each staff member can be evaluated on the same questionnaire.

Student perceptions of teaching are recognised as only one source of data on teaching effectiveness. Staff are encouraged to obtain other sources of information concerning their teaching. Reflective practice, self-assessment and peer assessment are encouraged. Advice and assistance in obtaining useful peer assessment can be obtained from CATL.

Academic staff are required to submit an academic portfolio when applying for positions or seeking promotion. Evidence of student perceptions of teaching is expected as part of this portfolio.

Assistance in the interpretation of SPOT results and in the addressing of teaching development needs identified through SPOT reports is available from CATL.

Broad University-wide trends of significance to University planning processes may be obtained through the aggregation of ratings on a small number of standard global items.

The provision of a confidential, specifically tailored, non-compulsory service, to an increasing number of individual staff is seen as contributing significantly to the improvement of the overall quality of teaching and learning in the University.

SPOT services are provided by the University, in the context of the above statements, taking particular account of issues of confidentiality and the appropriate use of SPOT data.