Revised, SP 2016
SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR EARLY STUDENT FEEDBACK
Regardless of how you collect the information, the most useful information in early feedback is
obtained when students are asked to describe:
1.
What about the environment, activities, and structure of this course are
helping your learning?
2.
What specific suggestions do you have for changing the environment,
activities, or structure of the course to better help your learning?
The two questions above are usually sufficient to gather meaningful student feedback. However,
you can add or tailor questions to fit your specific needs, for instance, if you want to collect
additional quantitative data and/or mean values for specific items; or if you want to elicit explicit
information about assessments, course activities, instructor’s strategies, lab settings, a
particular software, a new textbook, etc. Below are some questions divided by common areas of
interest. Note that the shorter you keep the early feedback questionnaire, the better. This
document provides several survey items only to showcase a variety of questions, but it is best to
limit the amount of items as much as possible and choose/adapt only those pertinent to your
course.
Sample early feedback survey items related to course organization/ content/ activities/
materials
Thinking about this course, indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
Strongly
disagree
This course is taught at an
appropriate pace; I am able to
keep up with readings and
assignments.
The content is appropriate to the
level of the course (not too
advanced, not too basic).
The worksheets used in this
class are helpful in preparing for
the exam.
The lectures help me learn the
material.
Disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Somewhat
agree
Agree
Strongly
agree
Revised, SP 2016
The course assessments
(exams, quizzes) help me learn
the material.
The visual aids used in this
course help me learn the
material.
The amount of homework is
manageable.
I know what I am expected to do
and learn in this course.
Software "x" helps me to better
grasp the course content.
The group work helps me learn
the material.
I enjoy working in groups.
The class discussions help me
learn the material.
I would recommend this course
to another student.
The readings/book compliment
the lectures well.
In-class activities contribute to
my learning.
This is one of the best courses I
have ever taken.
I know what I need to do in order
to succeed in this class.
I can think of (at least) three
things I have learned in this
course up to this point.
Revised, SP 2016
Sample early feedback survey items related to a lab (can be adapted for a recitation
section)
Thinking about this lab, indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
Strongly
disagree
Disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Somewhat
agree
Agree
Strongly
agree
The worksheets/manuals used in
this lab are helpful when completing
the experiments/assignments.
The instructions for lab
exercises/experiments are clear
and easy to follow.
There is usually an adequate
amount of time to complete the lab
experiments/tasks.
The tasks we do in lab have a clear
connection to the lectures.
Writing lab reports helps me to
better grasp the course content.
The objectives of each lab are clear
to me.
The experiments/tasks make
sense to me; I understand their
purpose.
Sample early feedback survey items related to the instructor
Thinking about your instructor, indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following
statements:
Strongly
disagree
The instructor seems to be
interested in this course.
The instructor is well prepared for
class/lab.
Disagree
Somewhat
disagree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Somewhat
agree
Agree
Strongly
agree
Revised, SP 2016
The instructor is able to explain
complex material.
The instructor is approachable and
able to answer students' questions
during class/lab.
The instructor is available during
office hours.
The instructor gives me useful
feedback on assignments.
The instructor returns graded
material in an adequate amount of
time.
The instructor is professional and
respectful of others.
The instructor generally talks at an
appropriate pace (not too fast , not
too slow)
The instructor generally talks with
appropriate volume (not to loud, not
to soft).
The instructor usually starts class
on time.
The instructor usually finishes class
on time.
The instructor establishes
objectives for each class period.
My instructor motivates me to do
my best.
I would enjoy taking another class
with this instructor.