Improving Your Teaching

Gathering Midterm Student Feedback is valuable for identifying areas for instructional improvement. Many instructors have found that simple changes early on can help motivate students and enhance student learning. Students tend to like the process because it gives them a chance to voice opinions on issues that are most critical to them, and they appreciate the fact that the instructor has solicited their opinions.

CRLT can help instructors with midterm student feedback in two ways:

1. By facilitating the entire feedback process using the method outlined below.
2. By consulting with instructors who have gathered midterm student feedback directly from their students on their own.

The CRLT facilitated feedback process involves the use of small group discussions among students about the strengths of the course and any changes that would assist their learning. The instructor arranges to have a CRLT consultant visit the class sometime early in the semester. The consultant arrives at the beginning of the class period and observes until there are approximately 25 minutes left. At that time, the instructor turns the class over to the consultant and leaves the room. The consultant explains the procedure and its purpose and then divides the class into groups of 4 or 5 students. Each group receives a sheet with the following questions: Read more »