Teaching Evaluations

Teaching effectiveness scores (TES) for the Department of Medicine are captured and maintained within two systems, namely the Postgraduate Web Registration (POWER) for resident teaching and the Medical Student Information System (MedSIS) for MD program teaching. On both platforms, MD and PGME learners use the Learner Assessment of Clinical Teachers (LACT) tool to evaluate teaching in clinical environments. 

At the level of the faculty member, teaching evaluations play an important role in determining success at Continuing Faculty Appointment Review (CFAR), academic promotion, receipt of awards at the hospital, departmental and faculty levels, and leadership positions. Within the hospital departments, quality and quantity of teaching may also be factored into physician remuneration.

POWER Evaluations for Resident Teaching

Within POWER, teachers can view their teaching effectiveness scores at quarterly intervals for the current academic session and at any time for past academic sessions. A minimum of three completed teaching evaluations are required before teachers can view their reports. 

The upcoming viewing periods are as follows:

Note – You will be able to access your Teacher Effectiveness Score at 12PM on the first day of the viewing period.

1. Log in to POWER.
2. Enter your PIN/Password. Forgotten PIN/Passwords can be recovered using the link on the POWER login page.
3. On the blue menu, click ‘Effectiveness Scores’.
4. Select the academic year you wish to view using the 'Training Session' filter.  If there are less than three evaluations, a message indicating that there are too few completed evaluations will display.
5. For assistance with using the system, contact the POWER help desk.

Appeals

Faculty members have the option to submit appeals for concerns regarding their evaluations. The department uses a formal appeals process for hearing teachers’ concerns about their evaluations. Teachers who wish to make an appeal should submit a request through the TES Appeal Form. Under no circumstances should faculty attempt to contact learners who they believe may have provided a teaching evaluation that they wish to challenge. Appeal of scores will be handled exclusively through the appeals committee. We encourage faculty to review their evaluations quarterly.

MedSIS Evaluations for MD Program Teaching

We encourage all faculty to review their Undergraduate teaching effectiveness scores in MedSIS to get feedback on their teaching activities and to help prepare their teaching dossiers for review and promotion.

In order to view your TES in MedSIS:

1. Go to medsis.utoronto.ca
2. Login (please use the forgot your password or login help buttons if needed)
3. Go to TES Score on the left-hand menu
4. Select session, course and form from the drop-down lists.

If there is a published TES report available for the selected criteria, the report will appear.

It is important to review all sessions (years), courses and forms (course components) that you have taught in.

TES reports in MedSIS are only available after they are reviewed and published by the course director. Generally, all TES data from courses from the prior academic year are published before the subsequent January. If you wish to receive specific TES data prior to formal publication, you can often contact the course director and ask them to provide it to you. TES data can only be provided once 3 or more evaluations have been completed for a specific session/course and form.