It is essential to collect feedback from students on their experience in your course. MERCURY is McGill’s online end-of-course evaluation system. The tool provides students with the opportunity to provide written comments and numerical ratings at the end of each semester. It is highly recommended to post an announcement in myCourses encouraging students to complete their evaluations. A generic announcement is available in myCourses for your use to facilitate this activity.
Why don’t students give more feedback?
Students need to be shown evidence that their feedback makes a difference in the design and delivery of courses. This motivates them to complete their evaluations (Svinicki, 2001). For this reason, it is important to discuss concrete instances where feedback from students effected change in your practice prior to asking them to complete their course evaluations.
In addition, students often hold the misconception that course evaluations may negatively impact their final grades. However, it is important to note that all instructors at the McGill School of Continuing Studies do not see the results until the final grades for the course have been submitted and approved.
Finally, it is possible that students lack a clear understanding of how to give constructive feedback, thus they may choose to give general comments that are less likely to be criticized (Svinicki, 2001). Be sure to take a few opportunities throughout the semester where students can practice giving and receiving feedback to prepare them for the activity. You may also choose to directly teaching students the art of giving feedback.
Reference
Svinicki, M. D. (2001). Encouraging your students to give feedback. In New Directions in Teaching and Learning, No. 87, Edited by: Lewis, K. C. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass