Mid-Course Feedback on Instruction

Overview

The Michael V. Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning recognizes the value of formative feedback to instructors. Formative feedback provides instructors insight into what is working and not working in a course and allows the opportunity to make reasonable changes.

Gathering feedback early in a course creates the opportunity for instructors to have conversations with students about the feedback and their plans to implement changes (as well as what kinds of changes may not be feasible during the term), adding transparency to instructional methods and course design. Instructors are able to reinforce course goals and outcomes during the process. Finally, gathering formative feedback can emphasize and support students’ responsibility for their own learning and how they can support it. 

If your program would like to partner with the Drake Institute to pilot a Mid-Course Feedback on Instruction (MCFI) survey email the Drake Institute. 

MCFI Orientation objectives: After this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Discuss the benefits of obtaining formative feedback on instruction from students 
  • Describe the process and timelines for implementing MCFI
  • Analyze MCFI reports and plan to debrief the results with students

Presentation Files

Administering the MCFI Survey

Instructors may choose to administer the formative feedback survey in class or as an out-of-class activity. Below is a script instructors may choose to use to introduce the administration. The script may be spoken and/or included on a slide or posted in Carmen.

Administration script: "Today, I'd like you to fill out a short formative feedback survey in Carmen. The information you provide is anonymous, it is just for me, and your input is extremely valuable. It helps me gauge how the course is progressing at the moment — what is going well from your standpoint and whether you have any suggestions for how we might proceed for the rest of the term. It also helps me understand what and how you are learning. I will report back to you about the results of this evaluation." (https://sites.dartmouth.edu/edtech/2016/07/15/mid-course-evaluations/).

To increase student completion rates of a formative feedback survey, consider the following: 

  • provide students time in class to complete the midterm survey
  • offer an incentive (such as participation points or extra credit) for student completion
  • notify students of important deadlines or dates (for example, when a survey opens or closes) 
  • make surveys relevant to student learning 
  • share results and plans with students

Consultation Support During and Following Survey Administration

Professional teaching consultants are available to discuss all aspects of teaching, including course design, enhanced classroom techniques, course material development, and documentation of teaching effectiveness. For mid-course feedback, Drake Institute staff provide a face-to-face consultation with the instructor in which we review student feedback and create a plan for discussing it with the class. Drake Institute consultants are available as needed to assist instructors with analyzing the MCFI report and planning to debrief with students.

If you are interested in scheduling a consultation about your MCFI, contact the Drake Institute.
 

Debriefing with Students Following Administration

It is critical to debrief formative feedback survey results with students. Drake Institute consultants can assist instructors in determining what, if any changes, they would like to make to course instruction or content as a result of feedback and how to present these decisions to students. In general, participants should consider sharing the following:

  • changes that will be made this semester (for example, the turnaround time on homework assignments)
  • changes that must wait until the next time the course is offered (for example, the textbook or readings)
  • changes recommended that cannot or, for pedagogical reasons, will not change (for example, the number of quizzes or tests)

For additional information, visit http://teaching.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/respond.pdf.

 

Resources

Teaching Center Websites: