Collecting Student Feedback

Collecting student feedback throughout the semester is an effective way to assess how things are going in your class. The Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center offers confidential consultations for faculty members, instructors and teaching assistants. One such opportunity, The Student Instructional Feedback Technique (SIFT), is a non-evaluative, confidential way to see how your course is going before the semester is over.

Faculty are encouraged to meet for a consultation at the TLPDC prior to preparing for the administration of the SIFT in class. Following that meeting, the consultant will prepare a brief survey designed to gather feedback tailored to the goals discussed. Using a QR code at the beginning or end of class, process of administering the SIFT takes approximately 10-15 minutes of class time. A TLPDC consultant will visit the class without the instructor present and elicit responses to questions that help you identify what is helping students learn as well as aspects that could be challenging for them. Student feedback is collected anonymously and then condensed into a report to be shared with the instructor in a follow-up consultation where next steps can be determined. In this session, your consultant will help you interpret the data collected from your students and discuss with you if and how you would like to implement changes or communicate differently with your students. 

It is important to note that this process is a completely confidential service offered by the TLPDC, and that summarized and anonymous student feedback gathered during this process is shared directly with the instructor only for their own use and never with chairs, directors, or area coordinators. Instructors may choose to share or not share this information as they choose, as it is gathered for their own reflection and professional development. 

For additional information or to schedule a SIFT, please contact Suzanne Tapp by email or phone at 742-0133.