Midcourse Feedback Question Bank
There are several types of questions that can be used in midcourse evaluations. Below are samples of narrative, likert-scale, qualitative, and quantitative questions you can integrate into your evaluation process.
Narrative Questions that Generate Qualitative Data
- What have you learned in this course that you find particularly interesting or compelling?
- What's helpful in this course to your learning?
- What suggestions do you have for change?
- How is the course going for you?
- What would help make it a better learning experience for you?
- On a scale of 1-7, with 1 being low and 7 being high, how is the course going for you? Why did you choose this number?
- Do you usually understand what is expected of you in preparing for and participating in this class? If not, please explain why not.
- What aspects of this course and your instructor's teaching help you learn best?
- What specific advice would you give to help your instructor improve your learning in this course?
- What other ideas would you suggest to improve this course (e.g., changes in course structure, assignments, or exams)?
- What are the most important things you have learned so far in this class?
- What don't you think you understand well enough yet?
- What would you like to see more of between now and the end of the semester?
- What do you think we could cut down on?
- What do you need to do in terms of understanding the material between now and the end of the semester?
- What is your overall evaluation of the instructor?
- Which aspects of this course/instructor are learning to valuable learning experiences?
- What aspects of the course/instructor need to be improved to increase the value of the learning experience?
- Please write any additional comments or suggestions.
Likert-Type Scale Questions that Generate Quantitative Data
Students rate from strongly agree through strongly disagree - Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Agree, Strongly Agree.
- I find the format of this class (lecture, discussion, problem-solving) helpful to the way that I learn.
- I feel that this class format engages my interest.
- I feel comfortable speaking in this class.
- I learn better when the instructor summarizes key ideas from a class session.
- I find the comments on exams or other written work helpful to my understanding of the class content.
- I find that this class stimulates my interest in reading about this subject outside of class.
- I feel comfortable approaching the instructor with questions or comments.
- I think that I would learn better if a different format were used for this class (suggested below).
- The instructor holds the students to high academic standards
- The instructor effectively challenges me to think and to learn.
- The instructor is well prepared.
- Examinations and/or other graded components cover course concepts in a challenging manner.
- The instructor shows enthusiasm for the subject.
- I feel free to ask questions and to make comments in class.
- The instructor deals with questions and comments effectively.
- The instructor is generally available during office hours.
Questions for Problem-Solving or Laboratory Classes:
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- The problems worked in this class help me in working other problems on my own.
- The problems worked in this class help me in learning the content ideas in this class.
- I feel that I learn how to solve problems more easily when I work with a group of students.
- I find the laboratory lectures helpful in understanding the purpose of the experiment.
- I find the instructor's comments during laboratory help my understanding of key steps in the experiment.
- I find the comments on my written laboratory reports helpful in understanding the experiment.
- I learn more from the laboratory when I am given questions about it to think about first.
- I learn more from the laboratory when I am given questions about it to write about first.
Questions for Discussion-Oriented Classes:
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- I find class discussions help me in understanding the readings.
- I find class discussions help me in understanding key ideas in the course.
- I learn more if class discussions are more structured.
- I feel that class discussions are dominated by one or a few people.
- I learn better when I have more of a chance to speak.
- I learn more from discussions when I am given a question to think about first.
- I learn more from discussions when I am given a question to write about first.
Questions for Classes Using Team or Group Work:
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- I feel that I learn more when I work with a group.
- My group works well together
- I feel that I need more guidance for our group work.
- I find that working in a group confuses me.
- I find it helpful if the instructor summarizes results obtained as part of group work.
- I find it helpful to get feedback from my group on my own performance in the group.
- I think that groups work better when each person has an assigned role in the group.
Quantitative and Qualitative Questions on Student Preparedness, Effort, and Work
- I take responsibility for helping make this course a positive learning environment.
- I attend class.
- I prepare for class.
- When I attend class, I am actively engaged.
- I stay up-to-date in the course work.
- I seek help when I need it.
- What steps could you take to improve your own learning in this course?
- How many hours per week, outside of regularly scheduled class meetings, do you spend on this class?
- 1-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, more than 8
- How much of the reading that has been assigned so far have you completed?
- 100%, 90%, 75%, 50%, less than 50%