Nothing terrifies a lecturer or any teacher at all than knowing what the students he or she teaches actually think about their class. No one wants to go through that nightmare of thinking all the jokes they ever dropped meant nothing to the class
While it is actually easy to assume the best about your teaching technique, how your students are tackling the workloads, you drop on them and even the stuff that gets to them the most, you may just be wrong and really know nothing.
However, even with the nightmare, there comes a time where you really need to face your worst fears and go all in for seriously honest feedback.
Note that if the right questions are asked and the students are given the time as well as motivation to deliver answers of quality, the student feedback will be highly beneficial to you and your career in the educational sector.
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How Beneficial Is Student Feedback?
We understand that it is your worst nightmare, but it has some benefits that will help you out in the long run. Some of these benefits include:
Aids in the increase in student engagement
When you finally get to know the learning activities that students look forward to the most and the things that do not excite them about your class, you will have a better understanding of how to design your lessons and get them engaged.
We understand that your job is not to be an entertainer to them all round the clock, but there are some techniques of delivery that may be received better than others. These techniques will lead to better learning gains.
Aids in preventive discipline
Having an idea on the experience of all your students will help you go a long way in enhancing the relationship you are trying to establish with them. This can also help in boosting the management of the classroom.
Issues of differentiation
It has been said time and time again that test scores are not the real measures of intelligence. This is because a student that gets perfect grades might only be doing so well because of the time and effort he puts in at home.
On the other hand, a student who simply turns in mediocre works may do better with more challenges. When you ask your students about the work that adequately fits into their capabilities, you can reconsider your instructions to meet their needs better.
Prevention of bullying
When you give your students the chance to talk about their feelings towards your class, you can also include information that consists of students who harass them from time to time.
Moreover, when a student says he or she hates the thought of coming to your class daily, the reason may not have to do with you but with their fellow classmates. The idea of getting feedback from students will help you discover all you never knew about your classroom
Aids in self-preservation
There are so many school management systems that apply teacher evaluation programs which include student feedback. Coming to the college level, the student evaluations can greatly signify an impact on the tenure and promotion of a college professor.
Rather than wait around for formal forms to be given to students, you can get ahead by asking for the same feedback earlier than the school management system. This can help when there is still enough time to troubleshoot.
Steps Involved in Gathering Feedback From Students
When you want to embark on this journey finally, you can begin by:
Ask ideal questions
Here, you can formulate a feedback form that you can share with your students. Some of the questions you can ask include:
- Is the workload in this class difficult, or do you find it easy?
- Do you feel the tests and quizzes are actually fair?
- How easy do you find approaching me with your concerns or questions?
- Do you think we do not make use of our class period wisely?
- What exactly intrigues you about this class?
- What do you not like about the class?
- Do you have anything else you want to share with me?
While the last question tends to be a throwaway, but you never can tell as it could be the most significant and enlightening information you will ever get to know.
This is because some of your students may use it as the opportunity to open up about an issue with a classmate or something even worse. You can never tell what you will get from that question alone. Just try to include an open-ended question.
Build up optimal conditions for feedback of quality
When distributing the feedback form, it should be done at both the right place and time. You can try setting out about five to ten minutes at the end of every class period and have your students fill the form
Furthermore, you can converse with the students about the reason for the feedback form and how you desire to know how they feel. You can share examples of mean feedbacks and constructive feedbacks too.
Easier way to collect Student Feedback
There is no point gathering such information if you are just going to keep it aside. You can react to the feedback by taking proper measures that help students.
Take help of devices like Student Feedback System. Which can be setup at multiple places on Schools, Colleges, and Universities using Kiosks.
They can be positioned at diverse places in the institution, and the customizable queries of the tool can aid in devising the feedback forms that are appropriate for any of your situations. Check out all the features here.