Course evaluation questions

The course

• The learning outcomes were clear from the start.
• The course content was well organised.
• The materials helped me learn.
• The level of difficulty was: Too easy, About right, Too hard.

Use a five-point agreement scale for the statements, and keep it the same across every course so results can be compared.

The teaching

• The teacher explained things clearly.
• I could get help when I needed it.
• Feedback on my work helped me improve.
• The teacher treated students with respect.

Rate the teaching separately from the course. Where several people teach, name each one, or the answers blur into an average of nobody.

Assessment and workload

• The assessment tasks matched what was taught.
• The marking criteria were clear before I started each task.
• On average, how many hours a week did you spend on this course outside class? (ranges)
• The workload was: Too light, About right, Too heavy.

Overall, and in their own words

• Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of this course.
• What helped you learn the most?
• What one change would most improve this course?

When to ask

Run a three-question check partway through, while a change can still help the students in front of you: what is working, what is not, and one thing to change. Run the full evaluation before final results are released, so a grade does not colour the answers about the teaching.

Anonymity and small classes

Do not collect names, say so on the first page, and mean it. In a small class, breakdowns by gender, age or study mode can identify people, so set a minimum group size and never report a group below it.

Closing the loop

Tell the next group of students what last term's evaluation changed. People answer more thoughtfully when they have seen an earlier round make a difference.