CourseEvaluations:ProvidingHelpfulFeedbacktoYourProfessors
Professorsoftenfindstudents’writtencommentsthemostvaluableelementofcourseevaluations.Tohelpyourprofessorsgetthe
mostoutofyourend‐of‐termfeedback,pleasekeepthefollowinginmind:
 Rememberthatyouarewritingtoyourprofessor.Yourfeedbackcanvaluablyinfluencethewaystheyteachthiscourse
andothersinthefuture.(Unlikeanonlinereviewsitelike“RateMyProfessor,”thisisnotaforumforsayingwhetheror
notyourecommendacoursetootherstudents.)
 Specificconstructivesuggestionsthatfocusonyourlearningarefarmoreusefulthangeneralpraiseorcritiques.Seebelow
forexamplesofwaysyoucanprovidefeedbackthathelpsprofessorsunderstandhowtheirinstructionalchoicesfacilitated
orhinderedyourlearning.Bothpositiveandnegativefeedbackismosthelpfulwhenveryspecific.
 Commentsthatarenotrelatedtoyourlearningdiminishthevalueofyourfeedback.Forexample,itisnothelpfulto
commentuponaprofessor’sappearanceortoincludepersonalinsultsinyourfeedback.
Someexamplesofconstructivefeedback:
Lesshelpful:Vaguecritiqueorpraise
“Theprofessorjustlectures.”
“Thereadingswereredundant.”
“Discussionswereawesome!”
Morehelpful:Specificsuggestionsthatcouldimproveyourlearning,or
explanationsofwhythecoursehelpedyoulearn
“Theprofessorjustlectures.”
“…,andashortbreakwouldhelpmepayattentionforthefulllecture.”
“…,butweneedmoretimeforstudentquestionsduringlectures.”
“…,andIwouldlearnmoreifIgotmorehands‐onpractice.”
“Thereadingswereredundant.”
“…Ididn’tunderstandwhywereadsomanydifferentarticlesonthesametopic.”
“…Couldyouoffermoreguidanceonwhatwe’resupposedtolookforinthe
readings?”
“Discussionswereawesome!”
“…Ilovedhowtheprofcreatedanenvironmentwherestudentswerewillingto
shareperspectivesanddisagree.”
“…Itwasreallyhelpfulthatyoukeptnotesontheboardduringourdiscussions.”
AdaptedwithpermissionfromtheCenterforResearchonLearningandTeachingattheUniversityofMichigan