Pre-Course Surveys
What do you need to know about your students before the semester begins?
Understanding students’ backgrounds, goals, and learning preferences before a course begins is essential to effective teaching. A thoughtfully designed needs assessment or pre-course questionnaire provides valuable insight into students’ prior knowledge, motivations, and support needs, enabling instructors to tailor instruction from the very start.
Did you know...
- By gathering this student information early, faculty can design more responsive learning experiences, anticipate challenges, differentiate instruction, and foster an inclusive environment where all learners feel seen and supported.
- A pre-course survey strengthens student engagement and enhances the overall quality of teaching and learning.
- A pre-course survey can also possibly invite students to disclose personal pronouns and/or preferred names. Instructors must be careful not to force students to share this information publicly. For example, instructors should not require students to list their pronouns on an attendance sheet seen by others or voiced aloud in front of the class.
In the United States, instructors must adhere to key laws that require colleges and universities to provide accommodations for students with documented disabilities: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In practice:
- Students must provide documentation of their disability to the institution’s disability services office;
- The institution must engage in an interactive process to determine appropriate accommodations;
- Faculty must implement the approved accommodations, though they are not required to modify essential course objectives or lower academic standards.
Students who have a documented disability are listed in Banner and in Canvas. Best practice suggests that faculty reach out individually to students to discuss the accommodations and mechanisms to provide support for learning.
Quick Tips for Creating a Pre-Course Survey
What do you want to know about your students?
- Background Knowledge
- Learning preferences and/or study habits
- Responsibilities beyond the class that impact study habits
- Goals for the course and motivation for enrolling
- Career plans
Accessibility:
- Technology access
- Concerns or issues that might impede success
Rapport: ask questions like...
- What makes you excited about this course?
- What is one non-academic interest you have?
- How do I pronounce your name?
- What is your preferred name?
- What pronoun should I use?
Anonymous survey or name on survey?
- Anonymous if asking about classroom climate, fears, or honest feedback.
- Named if you'll use responses to tailor instruction or build rapport.
- Be transparent about which you choose and why.