Individual teacher evaluation

Order a teacher evaluation with Otago inFORM and read how to administer a questionnaire.

The promotions policy expects you to provide evidence of the quality of all your significant teaching responsibilities as part of the documentation for promotion, confirmation and other appraisal decisions. Teacher-specific questions allow students to provide this feedback about a named teacher's teaching. Usually, you will be expected to submit official University evaluation reports that summarise this teacher-specific feedback for the 3 full years prior to your application.

To allow you to run one questionnaire, where previously you may have run two, a single-questionnaire can now include the 6 compulsory teacher questions, now labelled 'teacher core' questions, alongside other non-teacher questions. You can continue to use the same teacher-specific questions you always have (the additional 45 questions can be found in the 'Additional' catalogue), or you can combine the teacher core questions with other paper or custom questions, such as the 'Paper core' questions.

Individual teacher reports

Individual teacher summary reports summarise the 'teacher core' questions. And, as of March 2016, if your single questionnaire includes both 'teacher core' and other questions, then you will receive 2 reports: the individual teacher summary report and a report summarising all the data.

Since Jan 2020, individual teacher summary reports have added metrics for both teacher core question 5 (Overall, how effective have you found [Teacher's name] in teaching this course?) and response rates. This document explains the additional metrics.

Different reporting scenarios:

Confidentiality policy for individual teacher questions

Each time a set of teacher core questions are processed an annualised summary report is sent to the teacher named in the evaluation. A copy of this report is also sent to the relevant dean/head of department as per a policy change approved by the University's Senate on 30 March 2016. In rare situations of potential impropriety, we may seek advice that includes releasing results to the Director of QAU and relevant PVCs/DVCs. Student feedback is also aggregated (e.g., at departmental and divisional levels) and shared with the wider university to identify and respond to common threads in student opinions.

If you are a candidate for promotion, confirmation or appraisal, you will be expected to submit the 'Evaluations of teaching: summary data' reports with your application/ report. HEDC staff are available to assist you with the interpretation of your results or to design a plan for improvement.

If you wish us to generate teacher questions for another person or/and you wish us to release the results to a third party (other than the relevant dean/department head), we will need the named teacher's authority to do so. Find an authority form on the Forms and resources page.