New automated system for course evaluation and course analysis in Canvas
The system is used for all courses from study period 3 – get early access in study period 2
KTH launches a new system for course evaluation and course analysis that is automated in Canvas to save time for teachers. The new system is used for all course offerings starting from study period 3, spring semester 2025, and is an important part of strengthening the quality of KTH's courses. You can also sign up for early access to the system in study period 2, autumn semester 2024.
As a teacher, with the help of the new system, you do not need to do anything until it is time to fill in the course analysis - everything else is done automatically.
- The survey and course analysis template are automatically created in the course room in Canvas. An e-mail is sent to the course coordinator when they are available.
- You can customise the survey by adjusting the start date or adding questions.
- Students have 11 days to answer the survey, after which you can write the course analysis. Results of the survey without free text answers and a limited part of your analysis are automatically published for students in Canvas.
Course surveys and course analyses have previously been done manually via the tool LEQ, but will be automatic for all courses at KTH from study period 3.
Introduced in three phases
To ensure that the system works well, it is being introduced in three phases:
Reduces time spent by teachers
Teachers only need to write and fill in the course analysis, everything else is done automatically in Canvas. If you want, you can also adjust the start date of the survey and add questions before it is published for students. This way, the course evaluation can be customised for each course.
– One of the most important advantages of the new system is that it makes work easier and reduces time spent by teachers. It should be easy to evaluate your course, says Sofia Ritzén, Dean of Faculty and responsible for KTH's quality system for education.
The new system has been developed, among other things, because teachers found the previous system (LEQ) complicated, to create clear procedures for how course evaluations and course analyses should be done, and to make it easier to see development needs and carry out course development.
When the course analysis is completed, a limited part of it is automatically published in the course room in Canvas, and information about changes introduced for the next course round is also published on the course's page in the Course and programme directory .
All students get to have a say
As surveys are published automatically, this ensures that students always have the opportunity to give their opinions on the course. Automatic publishing also allows students to see both the numerical responses from the course survey and the teacher's thoughts on how to develop the course in the future.
– Other universities that have developed similar automated course evaluation systems have seen an increase in student response rates. By integrating the new system directly into Canvas, the platform where students spend most of their time, we hope that more students will take the time to answer the survey, says Oliver Andersson, coordinator of the project to develop the new system.
The system has been developed for a year
The work of developing the new system has taken place for a little over a year by a project group led by the IT department through Sub-Portfolio Education . Templates, processes and timelines have been developed in collaboration with, among others, the Faculty Council, Directors of First and Second Cycle Education, quality coordinators and a project reference group. The system has also been tested for a number of courses in study period 1, autumn semester 2024, before the open, larger testing in study period 2. The system will also continue to be evaluated and developed.
Read about the project here: Project: New system for course evaluation and course analysis
Part of KTH's new quality system
The new system for course evaluation and course analysis is part of the ongoing work to implement the revised quality system for education. Evaluating and analysing courses is an important part of ensuring the quality of KTH's education. The system is also important to ensure that KTH complies with the legal requirements of the Higher Education Ordinance, which regulates the responsibility of universities to conduct course evaluations and analyses.
News article 8 January 2024: New guideline for quality work is ready