Collecting feedback from your students half-way through a course can provide valuable information regarding student learning experiences and perceptions. This information can be used to make informed decisions and adjustments to support student learning.
Three Reasons to Conduct a Mid-term Evaluation
It indicates to the students that you care about their experience and success.
It provides you specific feedback empowering you to make adjustments during the course (vs. end-of-course evals, which only enable you to make changes for future classes).
By discussing themes/trends in the feedback with your students, you get a more precise idea of your students’ concerns and suggestions. This dialogue allows you to communicate your willingness to listen, and you can explain your reasoning as to why you may not be able to make certain changes. It’s a win-win for both you and your students –you gather helpful information that may lead you to make adjustments that enhance learning; students feel heard and come away with a better understanding of your course structure or assignments. Together, these may result in greater student achievement and better final course evaluations for you.
How to Conduct a Mid-Term Course Evaluation
Keep it short and simple.
Consider using at least one or more open-ended questions. These often provide specific information that you may not think to ask or that may help you understand student perspectives.
Assure anonymity. Anonymous surveys allow you to collect honest, useful information to help you make adjustments or address concerns.
Use a digital survey tool, especially if you are conducting a hybrid or online course. Find examples and how-to guides for survey tools on our Mid-Term Course Feedback Resources page.
For synchronous (hybrid or on-ground) classes, consider providing 10-15 minutes of class time for students to complete the survey. For asynchronous online classes, allow 3-4 days, since students may not be checking in every day.
Tell students you value their insights and strive to provide them the most effective learning experience.
After you receive the feedback, consider what it means for your course. Reflect on changes you can make; consider your rationale for not making some requested changes.
At your next class meeting, bring a list of comments and suggestions you’d like to discuss with your class. If your class doesn’t meet synchronously, explain these in a course posting, news item, or email. Your effort will indicate to students that you take their feedback and comments seriously. Explain what changes you plan to make and any that you cannot make, including your reasoning.
Always communicate that your students’ success and learning is your number one priority.
Articles on Conducting a Mid-Term Evaluation
Explore the following tools and how-to guides for surveying your students quickly, remotely, and anonymously:
- The Innovative Instructor Blog: MIdterm Course Evaluations
- The Chronicle: Consider Conducting a mid-semester course Evaluation
- The Value of Midterm Student Feedback in Cross-Disciplinary Graduate Programs
- Recovering Student Engagement at Mid-course Time
- Tip: Better Student Evaluations
- 7 Types of Mid-Semester Feedback to Help Students Succeed
- Tip: Strategies for Mid-Semester Student Feedback
Tools for Conducting a Mid-Term Evaluation
Explore the following tools and how-to guides for surveying your students quickly, remotely, and anonymously:
Sample Questions to Collect Mid-Term Course Feedback
- What aspect(s) of this course are most helpful to you as a learner?
- What aspect(s) of this course are least helpful to you as a learner?
- What challenges do you face as a learner in this course?
- What suggestion(s) do you have to improve this course?
- If you could change one thing about this course, what would it be?
- At this point in the semester, how do you feel about your success in this course? Please explain.
- What can I do to help you learn better?
- What would make class discussions more effective in helping you learn the content?
- What would make group activities more effective in helping you learn the content?
- What ideas would you suggest to improve this course?
- What could be done to improve this course for the second half of the term?
- What teaching strategies in this course are most helpful to your learning?
- Do small group activities help you learn the material? Why or why not?
- Do you feel comfortable participating in large group discussions? Why or Why not?
Three Question Survey (Start/Stop/Keep)
- What one thing should this course start doing to help improve your learning experience?
- What one thing should this course stop doing to help improve your learning experience?
- What one thing should this course keep doing to continue supporting your learning experience?
Two Question Survey
- How is this course going for you?
- What would you change?
(Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)
- The instructor clearly communicates course expectations and assignments.
- The instructor provides timely feedback on course activities and assignments.
- The instructor provides feedback that helps me learn and improve my work.
- The course assignments and requirements are clearly explained so that I understand what is expected of me.
- The instructor connects content to relevant concepts or to students’ lives.
- The instructor helps create a community of mutual respect in our class.
- The learning tasks in the course help me to master the content.
- The learning tasks in the course allow me to apply what I am learning.
- I believe the instructor cares about me and my success in this class.
- I feel comfortable asking the instructor questions about the content or assignments.
- The instructor respects opinions different from his/her own.
- The instructor is available outside of class.
- The instructor encourages students to ask questions.
- The activities, resources, and assignments are interesting and engaging.
(In addition to some of the general sample questions, the following may be helpful in evaluating hybrid classes).
- The course syllabus reflects the unique learning environment of a hybrid class (attendance expectations, due dates, assignment submissions, course resource availability).
- The instructor communicates clearly with the class regardless of whether they are attending on- ground or virtually.
- All course materials are uploaded to the Learning Management System (D2L), so they are accessible when needed during and outside of class.
- The online course shell is organized and easy to navigate.
- The resources available within the online learning management system (D2L) (e.g., PowerPoint, exercises, external web links, videos) reinforce my learning.
- I feel like I am part of a classroom community, even though a portion of our class attends remotely.
- I feel comfortable interacting and speaking in this class.
- I have ample opportunities to interact in class, whether attending on-ground or remotely.
- Are you having any technical difficulties? If so, please describe.
- What is going well with the remote component of this course?
- What could be improved about the remote component of this course?
- Is there anything that is limiting your ability to participate in online learning activities? If yes, please explain.
- Overall, the required work and learning for this hybrid course is comparable to the work and learning of an on-ground course. If not, please explain.
- The instructor is actively engaged in the online course.
- The instructor works to create an online community of learners that promotes mutual respect.
- The instructor frequently communicates with students to explain course assignments and expectations.
- The instructor promptly answers questions.
- The instructor is available outside of class via online office hours.
- The instructor provides feedback that helps me improve my work and learn the content.
- The Zoom sessions help me understand the course content and expectations.
- The Zoom sessions help create a classroom community.
- What strategy or resources have been the most helpful for your learning thus far?
- What challenges or difficulties have you faced in terms of learning in this class thus far?
- What suggestions would you make to improve this course?
