Teacher feedback from students

[ghworker2010]

I've gained approval from the 'powers within' to ask my uni students for feedback on my performance as a teacher this year. I thought maybe I could ask 5 or so questions- maybe multiple choice to make it easy for them.

I have a good idea about what I should ask them. Maybe you can suggest some questions....

thanks

[lostinisaan]

1. Did you ever experience difficulties to understand my speech?

2. Do I speak slowly and clear enough, that all of you can understand me?

3. Are my worksheets/handouts/assignments suitable for you? ( Too easy/ too difficult.....)

4. Do I teach grammar and sentence structure in an easy and understandable way, or is it too difficult for you?

5. If you could choose, would you like to have me as your teacher next year?

( Am I making enough jokes,. that you've actually enjoyed learning English with me?)

[SlyAnimal]

If I did something like this, I'd probably use a 1-5 scale for agree/disagree and have a comments box at the bottom, I'd use statements similar to the ones below:

The teacher was easy to understand

The teacher acted professionally

The teacher was knowledgeable on the topic

The teacher's lesson content was interesting

The teacher got along well with the students

[brianp0803]

What subject are you teaching?

How big is the class?

You might let someone else hand out the survey and leave the room so the students feel completely comfortable.

What do you want to know about your teaching?

Enjoyable/informative/practical/professional?

Ask what you want to learn?

Maybe ask - Is there anything I could change to improve the class?

Edited October 5, 2014 by brianp0803

[aarontendo]

Use a likert scale for sure, although I would skip the 1 - 5. If you go with something like a 1 - 4. Problem with likert is often 3 is considered "neutral" and really gives people a way to waffle. If you have two options that are positive and two that are negative at least then you make them choose a side on the question. Just my advice =)

[aarontendo]

"Rank the degree to which you agree with the following statements"

1. The instructor was well prepared for the lesson.

2. The instructor provided a variety of learning materials and styles for students.

3. The instructor was available for help outside of lecture as needed.

4. The instructor facilitated student interaction and learning in the classroom.

5. The instructor gave prompt feedback and guidance on written assignments.

Something like that. I would try to stay somewhat away from things such as "interesting" and "professional" because I feel as if those terms need more unpacking and interpretation.

[jacky54]

Just do it the Thai way, four questions with the answers with 2 answers being right, but one more than the other!

[utalkin2me]

I would dwindle down the sample size and do personal interviews, females only.

Use class time to do all this is the best option of course.

Edited October 6, 2014 by utalkin2me

[ghworker2010]

I ended up doing 5 questions with the last one asking if they want me to be a teacher next semester/ next year. Only 1 student in each class said no to me on this question. The rest of them said yes and I had positive feedback re the other questions.

[lostinisaan]

I ended up doing 5 questions with the last one asking if they want me to be a teacher next semester/ next year. Only 1 student in each class said no to me on this question. The rest of them said yes and I had positive feedback re the other questions.

Congratulations! I hope you did that anonymously, without letting them to write their name on such a questionnaire....

[zeichen]

With all feedback it is usually biased based on popularity and not ability so you want to make sure that your questions are more specific. I also don't care for most of the suggested questions. Teaching isn't just about the teacher. It is about the atmosphere in the class and the relationship that you foster between them, each other and yourself.

Without actual sentences and justification for answers these kind of makeshift surveys aren't accurate.

Your formative assessments in class would have told you the answer to most of the questions suggested. When you give an assignment you should also be evaluating if your approach to the subject was the best indicated by their performance.

I am surprised that you didn't have any questions about them.

Did you feel that you accomplished your goal in the class? (I always have my students write out a specific goal that they want to achieve. It cannot be vague or unattainable)

Then the follow up questions: How did the teacher help/aid/assist you achieve this goal?

If the teacher is the one that creates the content or curriculum, then that is a fair question but if not then it is out of the teacher's control and should not be counted.

Write one thing that you would like to change or teacher should do differently.

If you are always on time, then you don't need a question about punctuality. If you are always late, you should know yourself.

If you dress and act professionally, then you don't need a question about it. If you don't, then you know you should.

I need to find it but I have a very good book about creating assessments and the purpose of them.

LostinIssaans questions are ok if you are only a EFL teacher or a non native speaker. But not very accurate for most professional classrooms and schools.

Sly Animals questions sound like what an administrator would give to students to judge a teacher for rehiring.

Before you write any question you need to ask yourself the real reason you need this information. What areas/aspects do you consider most valid and what you need feedback on.

[aarontendo]

I ended up doing 5 questions with the last one asking if they want me to be a teacher next semester/ next year. Only 1 student in each class said no to me on this question. The rest of them said yes and I had positive feedback re the other questions.

Fail that kid pronto!

[lostinisaan]

With all feedback it is usually biased based on popularity and not ability so you want to make sure that your questions are more specific. I also don't care for most of the suggested questions. Teaching isn't just about the teacher. It is about the atmosphere in the class and the relationship that you foster between them, each other and yourself.

Without actual sentences and justification for answers these kind of makeshift surveys aren't accurate.

Your formative assessments in class would have told you the answer to most of the questions suggested. When you give an assignment you should also be evaluating if your approach to the subject was the best indicated by their performance.

I am surprised that you didn't have any questions about them.

Did you feel that you accomplished your goal in the class? (I always have my students write out a specific goal that they want to achieve. It cannot be vague or unattainable)

Then the follow up questions: How did the teacher help/aid/assist you achieve this goal?

If the teacher is the one that creates the content or curriculum, then that is a fair question but if not then it is out of the teacher's control and should not be counted.

Write one thing that you would like to change or teacher should do differently.

If you are always on time, then you don't need a question about punctuality. If you are always late, you should know yourself.

If you dress and act professionally, then you don't need a question about it. If you don't, then you know you should.

I need to find it but I have a very good book about creating assessments and the purpose of them.

LostinIssaans questions are ok if you are only a EFL teacher or a non native speaker. But not very accurate for most professional classrooms and schools.

Sly Animals questions sound like what an administrator would give to students to judge a teacher for rehiring.

Before you write any question you need to ask yourself the real reason you need this information. What areas/aspects do you consider most valid and what you need feedback on.

Write one thing that you would like to change or teacher should do differently.

If you are always on time, then you don't need a question about punctuality. If you are always late, you should know yourself.

If you dress and act professionally, then you don't need a question about it. If you don't, then you know you should.

Three sentences that make no sense to me. Zeichen, we do not have to agree, but let others live and let die.

LostinIssaans questions are ok if you are only a EFL teacher or a non native speaker. But not very accurate for most professional classrooms and schools.

Sly Animals questions sound like what an administrator would give to students to judge a teacher for rehiring.

"If you're only a EFL teacher or a non native speaker". Zeichen, you know for quite a long time, where I'm from, right? And I never made a secret out of it.

All I did was to suggest some questions the OP wanted to hear from others. I'd also like to know the same answers coming from my own students to see if I made my job as it should be. We humans usually learn by doing mistakes and nobody is perfect. Also professionals make mistakes. Maybe not you........

So it seems to me when reading your post, that EFL teachers and non native speakers really suck in your truest opinion. But that's only your opinion.Not more.

You make EFL teachers and non native speakers to 4th class citizens on an internet forum, where another guy was just asking for advice? C'Mon................

Your "advice" doesn't look very professional. But I'm sure that you're not one of these EFL teachers, with a backpack attached to your back,when in class?

Sorry for my poor command in English.

Sly's questions were quite cool, so i do not see a relation to evaluate a teacher if he'll be rehired, when reading his questions. His post was clear, while yours is just irritating.

Make love, no war, please.

Edited October 7, 2014 by lostinisaan

[zeichen]

"So it seems to me when reading your post, that EFL teachers and non native speakers really suck in your truest opinion. But that's only your opinion.Not more."

In no way was I attacking or degrading EFL or non natives. You clearly missed the point.

Actually not even close to what I was writing about.

My point was that when making any evaluation assessment, you need to first identify the criteria that you are assessing and the purpose. Evaluation should be used so that you improve your teaching. So your questions can make sense in your situation but not quite accurate for non natives and those not teaching just communicative English. Not at all a judgement on you, just clarifying accuracy for questions and their purpose.

I will not bother to defend or respond to the rest of your insults, judgements and attacks because you obviously are hurt but it is purely your misunderstanding.

"Sly's questions were quite cool,"

"cool" is not what an evaluation should be. It should be accurate and address the issues that the teacher wants to improve. Sly's questions are more commonly ones used by administrators not teachers themselves. That was my point.

[Phatcharanan]

If I did something like this, I'd probably use a 1-5 scale for agree/disagree and have a comments box at the bottom, I'd use statements similar to the ones below:

The teacher was easy to understand

The teacher acted professionally

The teacher was knowledgeable on the topic

The teacher's lesson content was interesting

The teacher got along well with the students

The lessons are enjoyable

[aarontendo]

Instructor ensured that we laughed and enjoyed ourselves, up to including wearing his clown shoes even on rainy days.

[brianp0803]

Do you feel you got the information you wanted from the survey?

I think the question most important to you was they wanted you as a teacher again

But a teacher that gives very little homework and high grade will have many students wanting his class also.

[lostinisaan]

Instructor ensured that we laughed and enjoyed ourselves, up to including wearing his clown shoes even on rainy days.

Instructor ensured that we wore masks as his alcohol consumption on campus was enormous, which destroyed our smell receptors to a certain extend.

Instructor's red nose was even more fun to look at than at a real clown's nose. ( Together with the clown shoes, of course)

Instructor always wore nothing under his long coat when he went for a walk in the park. ( Always showed something to other people who laughed about him)

Instructor was always absent on Mondays, as his rendezvous with Miss Hangover seemed to be more important to him.( Three Paracetamol for breakfast...)

Instructor's cigarettes always smelled so funny. One of my friends smoked one and was high for the rest of the week. ( And the instructor's still on rehabilitation)-

[utalkin2me]

Do you feel you got the information you wanted from the survey?

I think the question most important to you was they wanted you as a teacher again

But a teacher that gives very little homework and high grade will have many students wanting his class also.

Looking back with years of experience, the only good teacher I had in high school we all hated.

If you want to be a good teacher, questions like this aren't going to cut it. You just have to become a good teacher, the hardest battle is going to be with getting them to do the work, and wanting you back as your teacher. Difficulty does not go over well here.

[kingalfred]

Questions 1. Did you copy from other students ? 2 Did you plagiarise? 3. Do you really want to succeed on your own merit? 4.Is it important to get the diploma /degree paper by any means? 5.Is it really worth coming to class ? If the answer to 1-4 is yes,yes,no,yes.then 5 answers itself.

Edited October 29, 2014 by kingalfred

[aarontendo]

Do you feel you got the information you wanted from the survey?

I think the question most important to you was they wanted you as a teacher again

But a teacher that gives very little homework and high grade will have many students wanting his class also.

Looking back with years of experience, the only good teacher I had in high school we all hated.

If you want to be a good teacher, questions like this aren't going to cut it. You just have to become a good teacher, the hardest battle is going to be with getting them to do the work, and wanting you back as your teacher. Difficulty does not go over well here.

Yep same, I mean I had teachers I learned from that I liked, but my best ones often there was a dislike for. I was lazy a bit as a student, funny that..lazy kids don't like being pushed to study.

In other news, I found out that at my job if students don't like the teacher they get axed. Let's see if I make it past probation! ;p

[SheungWan]

A colleague once told me that if you regularly give the students at least a B grade for their assessments their feedback would always be positive. He did and they did. (PS they complained about him, but only in private)

[lostinisaan]

Did I always give you enough time to update your facebook status in English class? should be mandatory nowadays.

Whatever your plans are to produce the right questionnaire, they'll finally be the ones who decide if you stay, or have to go.

Edited November 17, 2014 by lostinisaan