Graduate TA Evaluation Project Phase 1

Table of Contents

Project Objective: Purpose

The purpose is to replace the existing paper TA Evaluation process with a Web application. This is a term goal for Winter 2016, although depending on progress of the project it may or may not be possible to use the new system for Winter 2016 TA Evaluations.

Project Scope/Deliverables

The intended results of this project are as follows:

• Paper form will no longer be required
• TA Evaluations will be filled out by course staff on the Web
• Completed evaluations will be visible to appropriate individuals

Scope Includes/Excludes

Includes

This phase replaces the existing paper form with an electronic system. No additional capabilities are planned until this phase is working and operational. Although the “ISC” role is named after a job position within ISG, the role applies to any course. It automatically includes the sole instructor of a single-instructor course, as well as manually-designated individuals for multiple-instructor courses.

• Web version of TA evaluation forms for all courses with CS TA assignments made available as of a specified date to course staff (“ISC” role) to fill in
• Results recorded in database
• Web display of TA evaluation information per student to authorized users
• Web display of “best TA” nomination information to authorized users

Excludes

Some of these are natural extensions of the basic capability, and some do not involve much additional work. As a result, it is likely that some of them may well be implemented shortly following the initial rollout. This would wait for successful rollout however in order to avoid unnecessary risk.

• Potential collection of comments throughout the term
• Automatic individualized notifications to course staff
• Capability for course staff other than those with the “ISC” role to be designated as TA evaluators
• Other views of the data besides the two Web views mentioned above
• Any other features requested during development and rollout of Phase 1

Assumptions

• The TA evaluation system will form part of the Instructional Management System (examination management, TA assignments, and related capabilities).
• System is used once per term; effective rollout takes place near the end of some term when the forms are made available, regardless of when the system was actually ready
• The questions on the existing evaluation form will be implemented exactly as they are.

Risks

• Schedule slip would result in an incomplete system at the end of the Co-op term.
• A different procedure for submitting evaluations may result in a different response rate.

Project Members

• IsaacMorland (project manager)
• JamieGrove (developer)
• DanielAllen (for “cross-training”)

Project Stakeholders

• SCS Graduate Studies Office (MargaretTowell)
• SCS TA Supervisors

Project Sponsor

• SteveMann (Director of Graduate Studies)

ST

ST#52768

Implementation Plan

1. Develop draft database schema and system design (Jamie, assistance from Isaac as needed)
2. Review schema, including “cross-training” (Daniel, with Isaac and Jamie)
3. Management Checkpoint (Ken, based on information provided by Isaac)
4. Develop Web UI (Jamie, assistance from Isaac as needed)
5. Review UI code, including “cross-training” (Daniel, with Isaac and Jamie)
6. Demo for grad office staff and small sampling of faculty (Jamie/Isaac)
7. Final Revisions taking into account demo feedback (Jamie/Isaac)
8. Push to production and make available to course staff (Isaac/Jamie)
9. Collect any additional feedback from course and grad office staff (Isaac)
10. Prioritize additional features (clients, with Isaac)

-- IsaacMorland - 2016-03-14