Weekly chat sessions are a great way for me to obtain formative course feedback. I also periodically send out e-mails to the students asking them for their feedback and post discussion topics asking them for ongoing feedback.
Cyndy,
When the "good and bad" are communicated in a professional manner, it should be more like constructive criticism. This is great practice for the students. They need to understand how to provide feedback to others constructively. Thanks!
Donald,
We put so much time in to helping students and positive feedback from the students is very rewarding. Thanks for your input.
I encourage the students to be open and honest through out the entire course. I encourage the students to state the good or the bad as long as the communication is delivered in a professional manner, I do call people out as they say for unprofessional behavior. Additionally I will ask the student to be sure to let my boss know, and complete the end of class surveys because perfect we are not, and we all need to have constructive comments to make effective corrections.
What I enjoy most of all is when students write outstanding papers that knock my socks off. I thoroughly enjoy it when the student shares with me that I made am positive impact on their life. This is what I enjoy most of all.
Donald L. Buresh
Christen,
Excellent! This is basically the stop-start-continue feedback we want from students. You can do this during the course as formative feedback as well. Thanks for sharing.
In my last chat of the course, I ask students for what went right, and what went wrong, and what should be done differently for the next class. They love to contribute their ideas, and I have incorporated some of them into future classes.
Christen Embry
Stanley,
When you say "student performance on each course module," do you have quizzes or tests at the end of each module? How do you assess their performance? Thanks!
Student performance on each course module.
Student feedback in live chats.
Number of students who access dynamic course elements I've posted.
Wendy,
Getting mid-term feedback is essential. There are things we can change within the course to make it better. We don't have to wait until the end of the course to finally assess what we are doing. Thanks for sharing.
I like to use short surveys like a mid-term survey to determine the needs to the students and to see their reactions to the content. I also read the end of course comments because as the course stated the evaluation process is cyclical.
Robert,
I love getting students feedback. It only improves the course and typically the interaction between students and the instructor also.
Thanks for your input.
I look critically at the student survey results. Often this gives an instructor on areas for improvement including clarifying text material, adding terminology tools, accessing tech support for advanced suggestions, etc.
During my last chat which follows the student completion of the survey I spend about 10 minutes with the question: what would you change for the next group of students taking this course?
We receive performance reports that are also helpful.
Measure what I'm doing compared with best practices that are offered through the schools L&L and seminars is also helpful. Although with a busy schedule I confess to accessing archives.
Heather,
Excellent. Glad you are a part of this professional development and glad you continue to learn.
Keep up the good work.
I never thought about it! Thanks to this ecourse I can evaluate the methods I already employ to identify which of these constitute Formative Course Evaluation practices. Something to think about-
denise,
Connecting the dots between live and online discussion is essential. Thanks for your input. Others can now see the importance as well.
I love when I see students refer to information given during our live chats in the discussion board. It helps the other students to realize how beneficial live chats can be in helping complete assignments.
denise,
I think the synchronous live chats help many students get their questions answered and see that others have the same questions. Sometimes it's nice to know you're not the only one with questions.
David,
That's a great idea. Just as in a F2F class, many students may have the same question and it needs to be addressed to all. That's why I use the FAQ discussion board so everyone can see the questions asked most frequently and see the answers. Thanks!
I check in with students during my live chats as well. I find it helpful to know a little about their class workload in order to better assist students.
