Early Feedback

End of term student evaluations can provide you with a lot of information for the next time you teach the class.  However, collecting feedback early in the term gives you the opportunity to address issues early, when changes can still be made.  This can be a very effective way to improve student learning in your class right now as well as develop your teaching overall.

Here are a few thoughts on how you might proceed:

The First Day of Class

What are your goals for the first day of class? This important first meeting can set the tone for the rest of the term. Some possible goals for the first day might include:

• Frame the course content
• Assess prior knowledge
• Create a comfortable classroom climate
• Complete essential administrative tasks/information
• Establish expectations
• Engage with course content
• Establish motivation by conveying the importance of the subject matter

Professors and First Year Students.

A fascinating study points to the importance of the quality of instruction in the first year of college. Daniel Chambliss and Christopher Takacs found that positive experiences with a professor in the first year can significantly increase the chances of the student choosing that major. Similarly, a bad experience can alienate students from a field. The study will be published in their book How College Works.

Inside Higher Ed has an article describing the findings here.