Improve your teaching with student feedback
Looking for ways to boost your students engagement and outcomes? In this blog, the VIVED team of education experts share tips on how to improve your teaching with student feedback.
Summer isn’t just about basking in the sun; it’s also the perfect season for educators to enhance their teaching skills. But with myriad areas to focus on, how does one pinpoint the prime aspects? The answer lies within your students. The feedback they provide is a treasure trove of insight, guiding you towards effective teaching modifications.
Navigating through student feedback, especially when it’s sprinkled with criticism, can be challenging. It’s natural to feel defensive or interpret feedback personally. However, embracing this feedback can be transformative.
Remember, your students are perhaps the most reliable compass to direct your teaching methods. Their feedback paints a picture of their classroom experience, shedding light on what resonates with them and what doesn’t. By understanding their perspective, you can fine-tune your teaching approach to meet your ultimate classroom objectives.
Join us, as the VIVED team delves into harnessing student feedback for tangible teaching enhancement.
Host an End-of-Year Focus Group
Turn this into an engaging activity during the school year’s final week. Assemble your students, discussing the highs and lows of the academic year. Celebrate their accomplishments and let them know the pride you take in being their mentor.
To retain this precious feedback, utilize modern tech tools. Record the discussion using your smartphone or apps like Evernote, ensuring you remind students of the recording for future references.
Potential questions to spur the conversation include:
- What stood out for you this year?
- Highlight your favorite and least-cherished moments.
- Which activity seemed tedious?
- Any activities you hoped we’d indulge more in?
End-of-Year Anonymous Surveys
Platforms like Google Forms or Survey Monkey facilitate anonymous survey creation. These surveys can encompass a mix of multiple-choice, rating scales, and open-ended queries.
For those candid, hard-to-share thoughts, emphasize the anonymity of their feedback. Some question inspirations:
- Which activity did you least enjoy and why?
- Any changes you’d propose for the academic year?
- Was there something you hesitated to share this year?
- Recommendations for a more vibrant classroom environment?
- Any other feedback or uplifting remarks?
Deep Dive into Student Evaluations:
When reviewing student feedback:
- Designate a quiet time for thorough reading and reflection.
- Instead of jotting down every response, identify recurring themes using tools like Wordle for “word clouds”.
- Quantify results, benchmarking against departmental and personal criteria.
- Consider nuances, such as class size and course complexity, that might influence feedback.
Summary: Improve your teaching with student feedback
Feedback is a mirror to your teaching style, reflecting both its brilliance and areas of improvement. By actively seeking, understanding, and adapting based on student feedback, educators can craft a more impactful and resonant learning environment. Ready to elevate your teaching approach even further? Explore the wonders of VIVED learning. Connect with us for a complimentary trial!
At VIVED Learning, we empower students and teachers with innovative, interactive STEM resources. Our platform contains over 1000+ fully dissectible 3D models, across STEM subjects such as Anatomy, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology and more.
Book a call with our expert team today to learn how VIVED can boost your students engagement and learning outcomes!
Like this blog? Check out our blogs on the best STEAM learning resources and study apps!
