You are correct. That is how it ought to be done.
I agree also, communication and clear expectations are key.
We assess student expectations through program surveys which are given yearly. Currently we do not offer course/instructor evaluations after each session. I believe surveying the students at this interval (every 5 weeks)is imperative to show the students we value their collective opinion. How can we fix what we don't know is broken?
I teach at a career college, we ensure that student satisfaction is in direct proportion to their future careers goals. Every subject taught must be applicable to their real world experience.
The survey results are processed at a central location but are kept separate by campus.
The same syllabus is used by every campus. Instructors individualize their classes by activities they choose to meet the objectives.
Aggregating the results would seem to be another issue. How can you make adjustments unique to your campus when you are looking at combined results?
Do all campuses teach from the same course syllabus? How much leeway do instructors have to modify the course content?
How do you define nurturing characteristics and how are they developed? Nurturing isn't a word you find in many job descriptions.
This is a really good practice. Some students question that they have really learned anything. This practice routinely reminds them of the skills they are developing.
The length of time required for receiving survey results is because of the number of students surveyed. My institution has multiple campuses in two states and online students in many other states. The results are collated and evaluated in a central location and then sent back to the individual campus for distribution.
Our administration realizes that the length of time required to implement changes is not ideal, but no one has been able to shorten the process.
The anonymity of the survey can only be upheld if the survey takes place before the grades are posted. If the surveys results could be read before grades are posted then students may feel that some instructors might grade them differently and according to any negiative survey results.
Learn to develop nurturing characteristics otherwise you will not be successful at keeping students.
All of our technical and general education courses are competency based. Students are provided a list of all competencies on the first day of class. As the competencies are completed, I have the students check them off. By the end of our term, the students have a completed list of what they accomplished in this term. Another benefit of this system is the competency list provides the student a thumbnail sketch of what they accomplished in the term and this information can be easily integrated into their resumes.
Even though the surveys are done anonymously, reporting back to the section that you heard what they said, appreciated the thoughtful input and that you are implementing some changes can validate the process and make them feel involved with their school.
I wonder why it takes so long to get the results of the survey. One value of the surveys is to give students feedback about their input. Since it takes so long to implement any changes, they don't get the value of their suggestions or thoughts. Is there any way to let them know that their input was useful and resulted in positive changes?
What happens if you learn you didn't fill their expectations? Has this happened to you?
What advice do you have for a new instructor who isn't comfortable being Mom, Dad, Mentor and Celebrity?
Surveys are anonymous so therefore one could not get back to "a" student.
Instructors get to make changes if they are feasible and suggestions are passed on the the neccessary departments. Because the surveys take place at the end of the term, it would be difficult to notify each and every student about the changes being as though the surveys are anonymous.
At my institution student surveys are confidential and the results are not known until near the middle of the following term, so I cannot respond directly to a student based on the surveys.
I have, however, used student survey results to make changes in the courses I teach in other terms. As I have implemented changes during my teaching career based on these surveys, I have seen a consistent increase in the overall survey results.
