How can you understand your students’ experiences in the course? What are some easy ways to gather and respond to students’ feedback during the semester? This guide addresses gathering formative feedback throughout the semester. For end-of-semester summative evaluations, see more information about course evaluation surveys.

Opportunities

1. Develop a short survey for students. Create a Google Form or an anonymous Canvas survey with 1-3 questions. Distribute the survey to your students through a Canvas Announcement, Classlist email, synchronous session in the chat, or other means of regular communication.
   Resources:
   Use your UW Google Account
   Get Started with Google Forms
   Create an anonymous, ungraded Canvas survey
   Canvas Announcements, Classlist e-mail
   Sample survey — you can make a copy with this link (using Google Forms)
2. Create synchronous meetings for informal discussions. You may consider online office hours as a way for students to ask you questions, but it can also be a chance to ask them questions and check in with each other. If you are using Zoom in Canvas, ask questions using the poll feature or ask students to chat to express how they feel about something said or shared during a session.
   Resources:
   Zoom via Canvas Integration
   UW-Madison Zoom - Getting started (wisc.edu)
3. Set up an ongoing asynchronous discussion forum. Use a Canvas Discussion or Piazza folder (if you already use Piazza in your course) to create a discussion forum for students to respond to check-in questions or provide you with feedback. Keep in mind that Canvas Discussions are not anonymous, so students may be more hesitant to provide honest feedback.
   Resources:
   Primer on Canvas Discussions
   Piazza (This tool provides the ability to post anonymously.)
4. Respond to the feedback. After you have gathered and reviewed the feedback, share with students what, if anything, you plan to adjust in the class as a result of their feedback. Also, consider sharing resources that they might find useful as they adjust to the course.
   Resources:
   Responding to feedback – Stanford University
   

Further Exploration

• Teaching Evaluation & Student Feedback – Stanford University