Online evaluations in these subjects replaced the traditional paper forms and allowed students to respond when they had time, rather than in class. Students could also change their responses before submitting their evaluations.
Participating students were entered into a raffle for gift certificates to area businesses.
Fifty-nine percent of enrolled students submitted online evaluations, while 74 percent of enrolled students submitted paper evaluations.
Gross asserted that online responses for his math classes were more helpful than paper responses.
“The comments were long, detailed analyses rather than two sentences scrawled on an evaluation,” he said at the meeting. “I could read them, too.”
CUE members will meet with the Faculty Council to plan for expanding online evaluations next semester.
In response to what he termed “an alarming number of cases” of academic dishonesty last semester, Gross said he will also write a message to the community reminding them of College policies about plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
Gross also suggested that the publication “Writing with Sources,” which outlines proper methods of citation, be reviewed and updated if necessary.
—Staff writer Allison A. Frost can be reached at afrost@fas.harvard.edu.