I.D.E.A.

Overview:The Individual Development and Educational Assessment (IDEA) evaluation system features a special in-depth course evaluation instrument and system designed to provide instructors with feedback tailored to the particular objectives of each class. The diagnostic tool was developed at Kansas State University in the early 1970's and has been used at over one hundred universities since then. The system was updated in 1999 to incorporate new research and methodology. The IDEA system is unique for the following reasons:

• It allows faculty to indicate their goals and objectives for each of their courses;
• Student responses are used to determine whether the learning objectives specified by the instructor were reached in the course;
• customized report with national norms, comparisons with other "similar" courses, i.e., courses of the same size and with the same level of student motivation; and, a special diagnostic section that suggests specifically what the instructor might do to improve teaching and enhance learning in the course.

Use at WC:IDEA surveys for courses are given at the discretion of the instructor.