The Purposeful Change, which is submitted in year 2 of the 3 year evaluation cycle, provides an opportunity for faculty to try out new ideas in their courses or tweak existing coursework. While this might involve a major overhaul in teaching methods, far more often it involves regular, more manageable smaller changes to their courses to improve student learning, using insights gained from day to day teaching experiences.

To get started with your Purposeful Change:

    • Decide upon the change you’d like to make to improve your students’ learning. Use your current areas of interest, student comments, evaluation feedback, and/or your Peer Dialog to inform your choice.
    • Identify the purpose and intended outcome(s) for the change; have a plan in mind for how you will be able to tell if the change resulted in improved student learning.

Complete the Purposeful Change Form to reflect upon whether your change accomplished what you intended. Your evaluation will consider your reasoning, planning, and analysis of the outcome, not whether your change was successful or not.

If you have already carried out such a change in the prior year, you may choose to discuss that change instead of a new one this year. You would still submit this form in year 2 of your evaluation cycle, however.

If you would like assistance in planning or implementing your change, Faculty Development can assist you.