The end of the semester is sneaking up on us just as quickly as those extra holiday calories, and students are getting emails and D2L prompts to complete course evaluations. Many times, students choose to ignore optional tasks such as evaluations, and in other cases, they do not fully grasp the significance of completing them. Sometimes, students are just so stressed and fatigued by the end of the semester that they focus only on academic priorities.
How do we get students to complete course evaluations and give us the feedback we need?
The new process for completing evaluations has made it easier to convince students to do them. They can use a QR code that you distribute to them to complete evaluations on their phones, you can email them a direct link to the evaluation, or they can access the evaluation through D2L, where it is easily located. Each of you should have received an email from Laura McGoldrick with more detailed information. Each evaluation typically takes under five minutes to complete.
Students also want to know why these evaluations are important. It may help to explain that evaluations give them a chance to express how they feel about the course and instructor, in a professional and truthful way, of course. Consider telling students how meaningful the evaluations can be to the faculty who teach the courses and how the feedback we get can help us improve our instruction. You may choose to let them know that evaluations are a place where they can express gratitude or concern. Students receive our feedback all semester long, so now is their time to return the effort.
On rare occasions, students worry that we will know what they have written about us. Students need reassurance that the evaluations are anonymous and that we do not see them until the semester has ended and grades have been submitted.
It is also essential that we are not present when the students complete the evaluations. Some instructors reserve a computer lab or offer students extra credit for completing the evaluations. These ideas are both valid ways to guarantee completion, but we must make sure not to be in the room or offer any guidance or suggestions about how the students should respond.
As an instructor, our new evaluation method will allow you quick and comprehensive access to the evaluations once the semester has ended. You will even be able to see statistics about your ratings compared to others in your department and the college overall.
We hope your students will be eager to complete course evaluations this semester and recognize the wonderful work you have done with them and for them.
I offer my students a secret surprise if we get 85% completion (I bring in candy or some other treat) before exam prep day and an even better surprise (bonus points) if we get to 99% completion. -And I do the math so the number doesn't include students who are no longer in the class. Then I provide a tally of our numbers each class leading up to that day, which helps them motivate each other. They have a good time trying to get me to tell them what the surprise is, and it makes them want to get it.
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