Importance of Student Feedback
As someone who has completed pharmacy school, I'm aware of the importance of monitoring patients and modifying their therapy based on objective data (e.g. their blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, electrolytes, lipid panels). Based on those values, I can modify their therapy where appropriate (e.g. increase/decrease dose).
I could be wrong, but in the teaching profession, I've found that seeking input from students, as valuable as that is, is based more on a subjective viewpoint. Based on this module, I do plan on having them fill out sheets that encourages their feedback.
What I want to know is this: because the student may be basing their answer(s) on their subjective perspective, how can we be sure their answer(s) is(are) reliable?
I would REALLY appreciate responses; thanks!
Kurtis,
It is a growth process for instructors that all of us need to realize and utilize as we grow in our profession. Your point is a good one about the value that comes from student feedback.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I, too, recognize the value of student feedback. It is important to give them the opportunity to voice their opinion on the class material, my teaching style, and the validity of the assessments and assignments.
We utilize student surveys at our college and it's proven to be very helpful. Students are given the opportunity to evaluate the instructor's strengths, weaknesses, textbook choice, and course content anonymously. At times it's a place where students vent because they aren't getting the grade they want; however, in many cases it's an opportunity for instructors to learn how to better connect with their students. It can be a refining process for the instructor.
Hi Carolyn,
Immediate feedback is so important so students don't develop bad habits or expand their misunderstanding of the content they are studying. With your approach the feedback keeps them on target and focused so they increase both their knowledge and skills in an efficient manner.
Gary
In the Court Reporting program that I teach, I give them instant feedback due to their hands on training. They need that instant feedback so that they don't focus on the wrong way to type on their machine. Very crucial in my program.
Hi Brian,
Student feedback received during the course allows instructors to make adjustments as needed with the delivery of content and projects. Feedback received at the end of the course can be used to refine the course for the next time.
Gary
Hi Yvette,
This is a good idea that way you can adjust your instructional delivery if you find from the feedback that you need to tweak your strategy some way.
Gary
How helpful have you found that? Do you think it's a bit too late?
I think when I start teaching on my own I would get feedback from the students in the middle of the term.
Hi Brian,
Good question concerning how frequently to get feedback from students. Yes, you can burn them out if you ask for feedback too frequently. I have found that I get the best feedback by asking for input from the students after major assignments or projects. I have four major assignments/projects in my class so I have them give feedback just the four times. Also, I want feedback that comes from the students in way and frequency that shows them that I value their input and that I don't take it lightly.
Hope this answers your question. If not or if you have others please let me know.
Thanks.
Gary
Thank you for your response Gary. I like what you said about distributing the anonymous surveys; I plan to do that next term and seek input from other instructors here.
Your second paragraph about comparing trends over classes sounds like hospitals creating reports this year compared to the previous year (be it culture & sensitivity, new regimen implementation, etc.). How would you seek to compare the feedback with students in the same class? How frequently would you seek input from them about their overall experience? Do you think students will become tired of filling out the same survey week after week and develop "survey fatigue"? If that's the case, how can that be avoided?
Hi Brian,
You ask a very good question and the simple answer is "yes, their responses are subjective." As an educator you need to look for trends or groupings in responses. For example if you have the students do a project and then have them give you feedback about it and twenty students respond that the project was practical and a great learning experience, while one student says it was a waste of time. When students give feedback in my courses they don't put their names on the forms which lets them be more free in their comments. As a result I don't know who that one student is that didn't like the assignment but I also so worry much about it because the feedback given could be part of a moment in time. The student could be having problems outside of school and is venting, didn't like having to work that hard, or simply as indicated didn't like the assignment.
When I give the assignment to the next class I teach I look for similar comments and then compare them to the previous classes. This way I can see trends in how the assignments work as well as where I need to make changes.
Taking a survey of any kind has to be done over a period of time. For example some years ago United Airlines did a business travelers satisfaction survey. They didn't have the staff to do it during the week so they did it on the weekend. What they found was that there weren't that many business travelers available to give input and those that were traveling weren't very happy because they were using their weekend to travel for business. Once they figured out that business travelers travel during the week on business they got completely different results. Remember when airfares were greatly reduced by a Saturday night stay? That made many business travelers stay over to save money but their satisfaction was at an all time low. Thus, the removal of the Saturday night stay requirement. Satisfaction increased due to the freedom of traveling.
This same thing applies when surveying students. So accumulate data and then make adjustments as you see them needed.
Gary
