In early February, the Teaching Innovation Classroom at UIC Barcelona sent out a survey for teaching staff and research staff on satisfaction and teaching evaluation covering the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. The questionnaire, which was answered by 211 members of the University teaching staff, served to draw conclusions, and provided an overview of teaching quality from September to January.

The event, held on 17 February, brought together the Vice-rectors of the University and members of the Classroom, who presented the results of the survey and held a debate divided into three sections: aspects related to teachers, students and assessment.

The representatives of the Teaching Innovation Classroom presented key issues related to the development of blended learning, as well as aspects in which improvement would be required.

The section on teachers mainly focused on the efforts made by teachers to adapt to non-classroom classes. In this regard, the advantage of choosing different virtual platforms, allowing for greater teacher-student interaction, was discussed. The need for further training actions in this area was also discussed, since 50% of teachers recognised that they needed more training to teach online classes.

According to the survey, 90% of PDI staff members responded that they had adapted better to online teaching in comparison to the blended model. However, the general satisfaction felt by UIC Barcelona teaching staff with regards to the teaching and support received from their superiors was high — 74% of teachers are satisfied with what they were taught.

With regards to the section on students, a proposal was put on the table for students to activate their cameras to facilitate the dynamics, participation and integration of virtual classes. In addition, the satisfaction of students in terms of the content of the subjects taught was made clear, although not in relation to the online format. The need to find more mechanisms for interaction with students is a point that needs to be improved.

As for the final section on assessment, this was a key issue discussed at the event. Reformulating and adapting student assessment is necessary. In this sense, continuous evaluation should be encouraged, and teachers should be given more training in this area.