Student feedback helps instructors to keep the content current and applicible to studentneeds.
Feedback is an important mechanism for not only student participation in the academic process, but also always an opportunity of learning for the Instructor.
Angela,
Good way to get a "read" on your students right from the start. I know this really helps with your instructional planning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I give a what type of learning am I quiz the first day of class
Discussion groups and group projects is always a helpul aid
Martin,
This is a good point. It is easy to make an assumption that is not accurate and the result is a disconnect with students. This is why with ongoing feedback as you mention we can keep our student engagement level high.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Feedback is important to keep us focused. I sometimes find, when teaching courses that I am professionally experienced in, I may sometimes not realize that a concept is not as obvious as I have come to believe.
Student feedback helps me keep focus on my students, since it helps me know what skills I need to improve in order to make myself a better instructor. Feedback is also helpful in letting me know if I need to change my teaching style to help the students learn the material more effectively. Furthermore, it helps me know what I can do to help my students more or if I should keep doing what I am doing.
Jill,
It also gives you some insight as to how effective you are and if you need to make any adjustments to help make your instructional delivery even more targeted.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michael,
Good point about the value of student feedback. It is an opportunity for us to expand and refine our effectiveness as instructors and customize how we work with students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This lets the students feel like they are able to share what they are learning in class.
It's very importance of students feed back, so you as instructor can learn how your students feel and think about you as an instructor. Sometime is possitive & sometime is negative. That what you learn and correct yourself to be a better instructor. I learn a lot from my mistakes.
Nieva,
Student feedback is a great instructional improvement tool just as you mention. This is how we keep our course current and our instructional delivery on target. We need frequent feedback from our students so we can make adjustments as needed and keep student enthusiasm high.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Feedback- like surveys-from students helps greatly because students make known what they think or feel about the discussions or the class.
This is helps redirect the focus or interest of the class.
The best time to do this is after the test- so what they write on the feedback would some how explain why their scores are such.
student feedback can help you better to understand and fix the way you explain and teach a subject . if they don't understand what your talking about,you can mabe explain in a different way to get them to understand.
Terry,
Good information on how to engage all students in the learning process. It is a matter of planning and delivery adjustments when it comes to getting students on point in the learning process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Many times students will give me feedback that they would like more practical lab time ... since they are visual learners.
When I increase the lab time, many other students get bored and look around the room without getting involved.
I have tried to keep students involved in the lab by having them observe other students in the lab and to try and learn from others mistakes...but again, many students lose interest.
Other students will give feedback that they are not prepared for the lab because they don't have enough background information.
I have found , over time, that if I "push" students beyond what they think they can do, they actually perform better. They show gratification that they have accomplished a task they really thought they could not. This builds their confidence...but getting to this point is not easy as an instructor.
It can show area's of success, so you can continue, and it can also enlighten the teacher about area's that are not as strong.
It enables me to know that the student is getting the material that is being presented. If they were engaged and enjoyed the learning process. Lets me know if different methods of presentation my need to be made.
Amy,
Well said about feedback. Feedback is just that, in that it helps with course improvement and professional growth. I use the 10% rule in terms of dealing with negative feedback. That is if 10% of the class comments on an activity or project in a way that suggests I need to change or improve it I will. When just one students makes a comment like this I consider it and then move on because it probably is based upon his or her challenge with the project rather than a need for change.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
