Additional Course Survey Questions
Adding targeted questions to a standard end-of-semester evaluation is important because it provides richer, more actionable insights than general evaluation forms alone. While typical evaluations often focus on broad ratings of instructor effectiveness or course satisfaction, carefully chosen questions can reveal specific aspects of student learning, engagement, and the clarity of course materials. These questions allow instructors to identify patterns, uncover challenges students faced, and understand which teaching strategies were most effective. By supplementing standard evaluations with focused questions, faculty gain concrete feedback that can directly inform course improvements, enhance student learning experiences, and support ongoing professional growth.
Quick Tips for Additional Survey Questions
Use specific questions about a type of activity, lesson, or assignment.
For example, try questions like:
- Which lesson was most interesting to you and why?
- If you could get rid of one of our lessons, which would it be and why?
- Which assignment was most beneficial to your future career goals?
- What activity would you recommend that I continue to use in future classes?
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Encourage students to complete the evaluation by discussing its purpose and importance in the weeks leading up to it. If students know that you will read their feedback and seriously consider changes based on their feedback, they will be more likely to complete the evaluation.
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Share how you have incorporated past feedback into your courses.
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Provide a small incentive for completing evaluations. One way to do this is to set a target response rate for the class – say 90% – and provide everyone with a bonus point if the class reaches the target.