Administering your teaching survey

Choose a time to hand out your questionnaire when –

• Students have had at least 5 hours class contact with the teacher(s) being surveyed.

• The teacher being surveyed is still teaching the class.

• You think you will get a good response rate. Aim for 70% of enrolled students. This will help ensure that the information you get is representative of the views of the whole class. See also Improving response rates

• For units where the response rate is less than 50 per cent of enrolled students, results would be qualified with the statement that
  

  'these results can not be taken as representative of this class of students and can only be said to reflect the views of those students who completed the questionnaire'.

• There is less likely to be any other issues which might bias students views, e.g. don't hand out a questionnaire just before or after a test.

Due to issues of student confidentiality, a survey will not be undertaken in units with ten or less students.

Handing out questionnaires

Questionnaires should be handed out in one lecture or in tutorials/practical classes over one week and relate to one teacher only.

To ensure the validity and reliability of the feedback that is collected from your students, it is important that standardised procedures are followed. Please –

• Allow approximately 10 minutes at the start of the class to complete the questionnaires. Experience has shown that students give more thoughtful feedback if the questionnaires are completed at the beginning.

• Avoid possible biases by leaving any 'housekeeping', eg returning of assignments, until the questionnaires have been completed.

• Point out that the survey is confidential, there is no need for students to put their names on the questionnaires.

• Ensure that students know which teacher the questionnaire refers to.

• Ask them to write the unit code and/or name at the top of the form together with the teacher's name.

• Indicate that the results and comments will be given to you as soon as possible. This will allow you to respond to their concerns. A survey on the unit will be conducted at the end of the semester.

• Nominate one student in the class/group to collect the forms and return them to the TLC in the envelope supplied either via the internal mail system (ensure s/he knows how to use it), or directly, using the purpose built mailbox at the top of the staircase to Library North Wing, Level 4. A return address sticker is provided so that the internal envelope can be re-used. Please ensure the envelopes are correctly addressed before handing to the student. The form provided should be completed and signed by this student.

• Ask students to read and follow the instructions on the questionnaire.

• Hand out the questionnaires.

• You should leave the room while the students complete the questionnaires. Under no circumstances should you handle the completed forms.

Handing out questionnaires in tutorials or practical classes.

If questionnaires are to be handed out in tutorials or practical classes please ensure that all tutors/demonstrators have a copy of the instruction sheet and an envelope for the student to return the forms.

Student Surveys of Units

Student Surveys of Teaching

Student Surveys Index