The feedback can help you see areas that you need to improve upon to help your student excel in the course. Example: if the feedback says that you are lecturing above the students heads, then you need to relook at your lectures to make sure you have the correct audience in mind.
Laura
This is a tough one because no one really likes to hear negative feedback. Whenever I receive negative feedback from a student or on an assessment, I tend to read through it and then put the comments aside. After I sleep on it, I re-read the comments and reflect on them. Sometimes, I realize it is just the student lashing out in anger. Other times, however, the comments are very constructive and I have made changes in my teaching methods because of them.
I keep a copy of the positive comments from students as a way to bolster my spirits if I'm having a rough week or a difficult stretch. Since I tend to absorb negative comments more than the positive ones, I find re-reading these comments helps bring the negative ones into perspective and helps me to find the balance and value in all of the comments.
By using student feedback to improve my teaching methods, I am maintaining a focus on my students. I am using the information to improve the learning experience for them.
