A Modified Delphi Approach for the Development of Student Evaluations of Faculty Teaching

Abstract

Using a modified delphi technique in which students served as the delphi panel, the authors isolated eight factors considered by the students to be important to effective teaching. These factors were availability, communication skills, grading, interaction with students during class, knowledge of the subject, rapport with students, teaching skills, and testing. Students and faculty differed in the importance they attached to these factors; for example, faculty rated knowledge of subject as most important, whereas students rated that factor third in importance.