The word "laatuhemmot" could be translated as "quality guys". Laatuhemmot are a small group of students, who - for their part - take care of the maintenance and improvement of the quality of teaching in our department. (There are Laatuhemmot also in other departments of our university.)
Among other things Laatuhemmot...
... upkeep the course feedback system and do course feedback summaries
... participate in various projects aimed at improving the quality of teaching
... organize Opetuksen iltapäivä (The afternoon of teaching) twice a year
It goes without saying that the quality of teaching must remain high in a university department. Courses must also be continuously improved to meet the changing demands. It is also in everybody's best interest that studying and teaching progress smoothly and everyone is happy. The Finnish university law also states, that a university must actively monitor the quality of its teaching.
In the end of every course the teacher should distribute a course feedback form to the students. It is advised that the form provided by Laatuhemmot is used ( Course Feedback Form ), although self-made forms are also acceptable. The feedback forms should be distributed during the last lecture or practical session, not with the exam, and they should be collected back in the end of that same lecture, not later.
The teacher puts the feedback forms into a box marked "kurssipalautteet" (=course feedback forms). The box is located in the room in front of the offices in C3. Laatuhemmot get the forms from the box and write summaries of the feedback. The summaries are delivered to the teacher as well as put into folders in the library (shelf next to the stairs), where anyone can read them. These summaries should be used by the teachers to improve their courses.
The teacher may also write his or her own feedback on a separate form or piece of paper and deliver that to Laatuhemmot with the feedback from the students. This allows Laatuhemmot to consider both the teacher's and the students' point of views when writing the summaries.
Teachers should inform Laatuhemmot (look below who is responsible for the subject you teach) well in advance of their beginning courses. This way Laatuhemmot can come to the first lecture and go through main points of the feedback given last time. This offers an opportunity for the teachers to show the improvements they have made and for the students to see that their feedback does not go unnoticed.
Please remember that learning is cooperation between teachers and students. We are all on the same side.
The afternoon of teaching is organized by Laatuhemmot twice a year. It is an informal occasion in which students and teachers from all divisions come together to discuss matters related to teaching and the department in general. Important general information is also often presented. The language of the occasion is Finnish. If you do not understand Finnish, please ask your coworkers or Laatuhemmot afterwards about the key points that were discussed. Otherwise you may miss out on important information!
Please note that the department has agreed that no teaching, exams or the like are allowed during the time when the afternoon of teaching is arranged.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Currently the Laatuhemmot in our department (and the subjects they are responsible for) are:
Niina Onttonen
e-mail: niina.p.onttonen(at)jyu.fi
Manuel Deinhardt
e-mail: manuel.deinhardt(at)jyu.fi
Antti Rusanen
e-mail: antti.t.rusanen(at)jyu.fi