When you鈥檙e opening Blackboard to frantically check the due date on that paper you鈥檝e been putting off, chances are that you are greeted by a friendly pop-up window telling you to fill out your course feedback form. Now at first, this may seem like just another notification from the university bureaucracies that be, but this course feedback form is what helps shape the education we receive.
You can provide your course feedback this fall semester starting now! Here鈥檚 what to expect:
There are seven common questions that apply to each course. These questions range from reasons why you took the course, to how accurate the syllabus was. After getting these seven common questions out of the way (all of which are multiple-choice by the way), typically you continue to questions directly from the school/college or department of that course. These questions are tailored for that particular course. Lastly, your instructor may include their own additional questions for you. This may sound like a lot, but the online layout is smooth, seamless and mobile-friendly.
Now, I know what you鈥檙e thinking, you don鈥檛 want to waste your time talking about a course you were required to take, or a class you felt apathetic about, but the cycle of course feedback is what helps mold the courses offered at 黑料不打烊. Sometimes you enjoy a course and may think 鈥淚 have no constructive feedback because I liked the class so much.鈥 Even enjoying a class and commenting on what the professor should keep up in future classes is helpful. By providing constructive feedback you are influencing the course for the next group of students, the same way the group of students before you did. This cycle is all about paying it forward to consistently enhance each course to be the best for students. As we scale further through the pandemic and transition back to in-person learning, it鈥檚 important for us to take advantage of the opportunities we have to improve the way we learn.
It鈥檚 important to always view course feedback with a constructive and critical eye. Feedback should not be viewed to get revenge on your instructors, but to critique the course to improve student learning. In addition to constructiveness, avoid vaguely positive comments. Be specific and let instructors know what to keep up with! Provide examples of things you liked and disliked about the course. Your feedback remains confidential, so take advantage of the opportunity to have your voice heard.
Written by Naimah Rahman ’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment Intern