Evaluating Your Teaching Implementations

Measuring student impact is a fundamental part of teaching and learning. Every time we reflect on a lesson—deciding if it was successful or not—we’re informally assessing our teaching effectiveness.

Moving from these informal impressions to implementing intentional changes constitutes the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). SoTL allows us to deepen our understanding of how students learn and how to improve our instruction, ultimately making us more intentional and effective educators.

How can I document changes to my teaching and the impact of those changes?

1

Engage in the SoTL

Implemented and documenting changes to your teaching qualifies as the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). To engage in SoTL, consider attending the ETE Conference, ETE Learning Circles, an ETE Workshop, or a CIDI Workshop.

If you’re unsure where to start, email empowerteaching@usu.edu for support and guidance.

 
2

Identify a Needed Change in Your Teaching

Pick a teaching strategy that addresses a specific issue you’ve noticed in your teaching. For instance, if students seem disengaged during lectures, you might add structured lecture breaks to boost engagement.

 
3

Plan to Evaluate the Impact of Your Change

Determine the best method(s) to measure and document the impact of your chosen change. Ensure these methods align with your goal. For example, if you’re adding lecture breaks to improve student engagement, you might use:

  • Anonymous surveys about students’ engagement before and after the introduction of lecture breaks
  • Canvas analytics or comparative assessment data
  • Observational notes from lectures with/without breaks
  • Qualitative comments from IDEA evaluations about lecture breaks

Plan your evaluation before implementing changes so you can collect the right evidence.

 
4

Implement Your Change

With your plan ready, make the change in your classroom. Remember to document what you do, such as by recording class sessions, saving lesson plans, or detailing activities and timings—especially if you’ll be submitting for an Implement badge in the Professional Development Pathways program.

 
5

Collect Evidence on the Impacts of the Change

Gather data using the methods outlined in your plan. This might involve sending surveys, reviewing observation notes, checking Canvas analytics, or comparing assessment data.

 
6

Reflect on the Impact of Your Change and Potential Actions

Analyze your data to see if your goal was achieved. If not, consider adapting the method or trying a different approach. Decide if this change is worth keeping for future courses and note any next steps for ongoing improvement.