Appendix J: Open Ended Questions for Gathering Student Feedback
During a teaching observation, an instructor may ask an observer to assist in collecting some anonymous student feedback. Questions like “What is working well in this course?” and “What suggestions do you have regarding how the instructor may enhance your learning in this course?” can solicit areas of strength and areas for improvement. However, the instructor may also wish to generate some additional or alternative questions for soliciting student feedback.
Below are some additional open-ended questions that instructors may wish to review, select from, and/or modify to incorporate them into their teaching observation.
- General Feedback:
- What aspects of the course have you found most valuable so far, and why?
- Are there specific topics or concepts you feel are not covered adequately? If so, please explain.
- Are there specific areas where you feel you need more explanation or examples to enhance your understanding? If so, please explain.
- How would you describe your overall learning experience in this course?
- Teaching Methods:
- Can you identify any teaching methods that have been particularly effective in helping you understand the material? If so, please explain.
- Were there any teaching approaches that you found challenging or less helpful? If so, please explain.
- Is there a particular teaching approach that you think could be adjusted to better support your learning? If so, please explain.
- Assessments:
- How do you feel about the format and difficulty level of the assessments so far?
- Are there specific types of assessments or tasks that you believe would better gauge your understanding of the material? If so, please explain.
- Engagement and Participation:
- How comfortable do you feel participating in class discussions or activities?
- Are there any specific activities or discussions that stood out to you as particularly engaging? If so, please explain.
- Are there additional ways you would like to participate in the learning process? If so, please explain.
- Communication:
- How effective has the communication between the instructor and the students been to date?
- Are the instructions for the activities and assessments clear and easy to follow? Why or why not?
- How helpful do you find the feedback you receive on your assessments? Please explain.
- Are there specific types of feedback that you find particularly useful for your learning? If so, please explain.
- Time Management:
- How do you feel about the pacing of the course and the time required for assessments and readings?
- Are there adjustments to the schedule or workload that you think would improve your learning experience? Please explain.
- Resources:
- Are the course materials and resources assisting you in your understanding of the material? Please explain.
- Are there additional resources or tools that you think would enhance your learning? If so, what are they?
- Technology and Platforms:
- How comfortable are you with the technology and platforms used for the course (e.g., online platforms, communication tools)? Please explain.
- Are there any technical issues or challenges you’ve encountered that need attention? Is so, please describe them.
- Group Work and Collaboration:
- If applicable, how would you rate the effectiveness of group work or collaborative activities in the course, and why?
- Are there any challenges or concerns you have regarding group projects or collaborations? If so, please explain.
- Support:
- How would you rate the support you have received from the instructor in terms of clarifying doubts and addressing concerns? Why?
- Have the office hours or other support mechanisms been helpful? Please explain.
- Application of Knowledge:
- Can you identify ways in which you have been able to apply what you learned in this course to real-world situations? If so, please explain.
- Are there specific skills or knowledge areas you feel more confident in at this point in the course? If so, what are they?
- Challenges and Suggestions:
- What are the main challenges you have faced in this course so far, if any?
- Do you have any suggestions for improving the course or making it more accessible to students? If so, what are they?
- Overall Experience:
- What has been the most positive aspect of the course so far, and why?
- Is there anything specific that, if changed or improved, would significantly enhance your learning experience? If so, please explain.