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Appendix 6. Pre-Site Visit Interviews: Questions for Faculty Members

Module by: Phuong Nguyen

Observations on Undergraduate Education in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Physics
at Select Universities in Vietnam
PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
Name:
Title:
Faculty/Department:
University:
Phone: E-mail:
Educational background:
- Bachelor’s in [subject]From:
- Master’s in From:
- Doctorate in From:
Note: Your participation is voluntary. We ask for you to identify yourself so that we can list your name as a contributor to the project. We assure you that your responses will be kept anonymous and that what you say will be summarized into a general statement. We appreciate your complete honesty in answering each item in order to provide an accurate picture of higher education practices in Vietnam. Thank you for your help!
Please confirm with your signature below so that we can list your name and use the information that you provide:
______________________________________________________ Date: ________________
Directions: The questions below are provided for your review in advance of a meeting with you in person. During a personal interview, Dr. Phuong will record your answers to the questions. In addition to your comments about your particular situation, we appreciate your adding answers also from a general perspective, if possible. Please provide copies and samples if available.
1. CURRENT TEACHING SITUATION
  • List the courses that you teach in this department.
  • How many hours do you teach (in this department)?
  • How many students are in a typical class?
  • What other duties do you have in this department?
  • What types of teaching methods do you use (i.e., lecture, group work, research project)?
  • Do you get any help with your responsibilities (i.e., teaching assistants, research assistants)?
  • Describe your typical day as a faculty member (approximate hours for each activity).
  • At what other universities do you teach in addition to your full-time job?
2. CURRICULUM AND SYLLABI
  • How is the curriculum developed and approved?
  • How much can faculty members/ departments make changes to the curriculum? (a lot, some, very little, not at all)
  • Do you use curriculum mapping in planning course sequences and content? If so, how?
  • List requirements for the bachelor’s degree in [subject area]. Please address core curriculum (core courses) and electives (optional courses), the number of credit hours, and lecture versus lab courses. If possible, please provide a copy of the curriculum.
  • Describe, and please provide current examples of, the curriculum and specific syllabi that you are using now, particularly for core courses. Please identify the subject area and/or courses.
  • What is the standard format for a syllabus? Please provide samples.
  • How often are the syllabi revised?
  • What is the proportion of theory and practice in the curriculum? In the syllabi? Is this adequate?
  • Please provide some sample materials (i.e., grading standards, homework assignments, exams) on a few undergraduate courses of your choice.
  • How many hours per week do courses meet? How much time is expected for homework outside of the meeting time for each course?
  • How often are foreign books and materials (i.e., curricula, syllabi, etc.) used? (frequently, occasionally, never)
  • Do students receive copies of the curriculum and syllabi? If so, in what format and when?
  • In your opinion, what part of the curriculum (overall program) is most useful to students? What are the students most proud of?
  • Do faculty share and exchange syllabi with other faculty members in the same department? How about with departments in other universities?
3. ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING
  • What grading standards do you use? How are students informed of grading standards?
  • What types of assessments (i.e., in-class tests, homework, group projects, presentations) are used to evaluate students? Please provide samples.
  • How often is student learning assessed (i.e., weekly tests, mid-term exams, semester or year-end final exams)?
  • What types of tests are used (i.e., multiple choice, short answer, essay, and/or oral exam)?
  • What type of feedback do you give to students on their homework assignments? Please provide samples of students’ work with your feedback.
  • What percentage of the syllabi is assessed in tests?
  • At the end of a course, how do you assess student learning outcomes with the goals set in the course syllabus and overall curriculum?
  • If you could make one change to further develop student learning, what would that be?
4. EVALUATION OF YOUR TEACHING
  • What types of assessment are used to evaluate your teaching, who does the evaluation (i.e., self, students, peers, supervisors), and how often? Please provide sample forms.
  • Are these assessments used to reward faculty? If so how? (e.g., promotion, increased salary)
  • Are assessment results used for further development/improvement of your teaching?
  • If you could make one change to further develop faculty teaching effectiveness, what would that be?
5. TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES
  • Please describe the availability of educational aids, materials, textbooks, and resources (i.e., computers, Internet access, reference materials, journals)?
    • How many computers are available (to faculty, to students)? How many computers with high-speed Internet access? Are they free for faculty, for students?
    • Do you have your own copies of the textbooks? Do students have their own copies?
    • If copies of textbooks are in the library, how do students have access to them (must read in library, can copy, can check books out)?
    • If no text books are available, do you develop course notes? Are the course notes available on the Web?
    • How do you and your students access the latest professional journals (internet, library subscription, interlibrary loan)?
  • What student services are available (i.e., bookstore, canteen for meals, counseling, job placement assistance, health facilities, library)?
  • What support structures are available for students who need additional help? (i.e., remedial courses, learning centers, writing center, etc.). If available, how are they funded and staffed?
6. HOW MUCH, AND WHAT KIND OF, INTERACTION EXISTS BETWEEN YOU AND
  • Your students (frequent, occasional, never)
  • Other faculty members (frequent, occasional, never)
  • Administrators (frequent, occasional, never)
  • Alumni (frequent, occasional, never)
  • Industries, companies? (frequent, occasional, never)
7. RESEARCH
  • What percentage of faculty conduct research?
  • What is the source of research funding? (e.g., University ( %), government ( %), private ( %)?
  • Are faculty members encouraged to conduct research? If so, how?
  • What research projects are underway now among faculty in [subject]?
  • Who is the principal investigator (PI) of the various projects?
  • What research are you involved in now?
  • How is information about, and results of, the research made known to the public?
  • Is research incorporated into your courses? If so, how?
  • Are students involved in doing the research?
  • Is joint research with other faculty and/or students encouraged? If so, how?
  • Are paid positions available to students to do research toward their degree?
8. OTHER ACTIVITIES
  • Describe the support provided by the University for faculty professional development, including the funding and staffing, to assist faculty in:
    • pedagogy;
    • curriculum development;
    • assessment of student learning; and
    • program/curriculum assessment.
  • Are faculty members encouraged to participate in committees and other services to the University? If so, how?
  • How many committees are faculty members expected to serve on? Describe the types of committees and services.
9. OTHER COMMENTS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Nguyễn Thị Thanh Phượng
on her cell phone: 0909-388-227 or by email: phuongnguyen@vef.gov

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