Proposal and preliminary validation of a rubric for evaluating virtual teaching in obstetrics programs

Abstract

The evaluation of teaching performance in virtual environments has gained growing relevance in higher education, particularly in health sciences programs where pedagogical and clinical demands require clear and context-sensitive assessment criteria. However, there remains a lack of validated instruments tailored to the dynamics of online instruction. This study aimed to design and conduct a preliminary validation of a rubric for evaluating teaching performance in virtual settings, specifically within Obstetrics undergraduate programs. A quantitative instrumental research design was used. The rubric was structured into four dimensions—didactic planning, virtual class development, teacher-student interaction, and assessment of learning—comprising 12 criteria and 30 indicators. Content validation was carried out through expert judgment using Aiken's V coefficient, while internal consistency was estimated via Cronbach's alpha, based on a pilot test with independent evaluators. Results showed a mean Aiken’s V of 0.89, with all criteria above the minimum acceptable threshold, and high reliability (α = 0.91). Qualitative analysis of expert feedback led to improvements in the wording and structure of several indicators. It is concluded that the proposed rubric is valid, reliable, and aligned with a competency-based instructional framework, offering a useful pedagogical tool for evaluating teaching performance in virtual health education settings.