VT Student Feedback on Teaching

I just received this. You may have already received something similar and replied.  If so, thanks! Laughlin, Anne <laughlin@vt.edu>
to OFFICE_OF_ASSE.

Dear Colleagues,

It is mid-point in the two week period when students can submit feedback through the online Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) system. Currently, responses are coming in more slowly than they have in past semesters. While the university-wide response is about 70% each term, some instructors have taken steps to achieve online response rates of 80% or better. Instructors who receive high response rates tend to do the following:

Communicate with Students about SPOT

·         Direct all students to the login page ( eval.scholar.vt.edu ). After login, they will see a link to the SPOT survey for each of their classes.
·         Share examples of how you have modified class content or instruction based on past student feedback. 
·         Teach students what it means to provide constructive feedback (e.g., keep comments narrowly focused and include suggestions for improvement).
·         Impress upon students that practicing constructive feedback is part of professional development – it is a learned skill that will show its value long after graduation.

Provide Class Time for SPOT

·         Ask students to bring their laptops to class and offer 10 minutes for them to complete the SPOT survey.

Assure Confidentiality

·         No identifying information is associated with responses when they are shared with instructors. Knowing this may help students to be more comfortable with responding.