POD - IDEA Center Notes

These succinct papers were written in collaboration with the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD). As a resource to support teaching improvement, each is useful to anyone wanting to address specific ways to employ different teaching methods – each of which is utilized in the Diagnostic Form of the IDEA Student Ratings of Instruction System.

       
Introduction
IDEA Item #1 "Displayed a personal interest in students and their learning," Virginia S. Lee
IDEA Item #2 "Found ways to help students answer their own questions," Nancy McClure
IDEA Item #3 "Scheduled course work (class activities, tests, projects) in ways which encouraged students to stay up-to-date in their work," Michael Theall
IDEA Item #4 "Demonstrated the importance and significance of the subject matter," Nancy McClure
IDEA Item #5 "Formed "teams" or "discussion groups" to facilitate learning," Todd Zakrajsek
IDEA Item #6 "Made it clear how each topic fit into the course," Michael Theall
IDEA Item #7 "Explained the reasons for criticisms of students' academic performance," Barbara E. Walvoord
IDEA Item #8 "Stimulated students to intellectual effort beyond that required by most courses," Nancy McClure
IDEA Item #9 "Encouraged students to use multiple resources (e.g. data banks, library holdings, outside experts) to improve understanding," Leora Baron
IDEA Item #10 "Explained course material clearly and concisely," Mary Deane Sorcinelli
IDEA Item #11 "Related course material to real life situations," Michael Theall
IDEA Item #12 "Gave tests, projects, etc. that covered the most important parts of the course," Barbara E. Walvoord
IDEA Item #13 "Introduced stimulating ideas about the subject," Michael Theall
IDEA Item #14 "Involved students in 'hands-on' projects such as research, case studies, or 'real life' activities," Virginia S. Lee
IDEA Item #15 "Inspired students to set and achieve goals which really challenged them," Todd Zakrajsek
IDEA Item #16 "Asked students to share ideas and experiences with others whose backgrounds and viewpoints differ from their own," Jeff King
IDEA Item #17 "Provided timely and frequent feedback on tests, reports, projects, etc. to help students improve," Cynthia Desrochers
IDEA Item #18 "Asked students to help each other understand ideas or concepts," Jeff King
IDEA Item #19 "Gave projects, tests, or assignments that required original or creative thinking," Cynthia Desrochers
IDEA Item #20 "Encouraged student-faculty interaction outside of class," Allison Pingree