Getting Student Feedback

At SIT, we gather formal student feedback twice a trimester.

An early learning insight survey (ELIS) is conducted from Week 3 to 4 of the trimester to ask students how they are coping with the module. Having this information while the module is in progress gives you a valuable opportunity to adjust your teaching strategies for the rest of the trimester. We encourage you to address issues that are brought up during ELIS through dialogue with your students.

Towards the end of the trimester, students will be asked to answer a lengthier questionnaire on the module and its teaching. The feedback collected in this round provides useful input for the next review of the module.

We encourage academic staff to obtain feedback of their teaching from students informally as well.

You may want to find out if your students are grasping difficult topics, or get their opinion on a new teaching method you have implemented. It could also be another chance for them to clarify or ask questions about the module.

Keep informal feedback activities short or find ways to incorporate them into your teaching. Some ways to gather informal feedback:

• Polls and surveys
• Discussion forums
• Dialogue sessions
• Post-it notes
• Random chats with students

USE THESE TOOLS TO GET FEEDBACK

While getting students’ perspectives can provide food for thought about our teaching, we understand that receiving feedback can be stressful. Here are some tips to make it easier:

• Look for positive affirmations and constructive suggestions. Don’t focus on negatives and harsh words that are too personal
• Recognise that some students may not be able to express their thoughts well. It can be liberating to have an open discussion on their frustrations through a dialogue with the class
• Explain why you made certain difficult decisions (e.g. being strict about assessment). You may also want to point out that it is sometimes impossible to satisfy everyone (e.g. when some students find the pace too slow while others find it too fast). Students will appreciate it if you are genuine and open to making improvements
• Ask STLA’s educational developers for help. Whether you seek advice on how to respond to your students’ comments or just need support, we’re here for you. We can also sit in and help you assess your classes as an unbiased observer