Instructional Effectiveness: A Real Time Feedback Approach Using Statistical Process Control (Spc)

Are students satisfied with their courses? Students are typically requested to assess the course and instruction at the end of the semester. Course evaluations report student ratings of instruction in order to provide feedback to the instructor and administration. Although this feedback may provide long-term insight into instructional effectiveness, it cannot be used to provide real-time information to the instructor. There are assessment techniques that provide real-time course assessment, but none that monitor assessment trends over time based on some standards. Statistical Process Control is a method used to monitor quality characteristics and determine the capability of the process over time. In a classroom, SPC can allow the instructor to monitor multiple predetermined course attributes associated with class lectures such as course organization, efficient use of class, or instructor enthusiasm. The instructor can use this feedback to monitor their effectiveness and make improvements before the course is over. The paper presents an overview of the SPC process and a case study that explores the application of SPC within an engineering course.