Dr. Tom O’Brien – Student Success University of Southern Mississippi

1. It’s 12 Weeks into the Semester.
Do You Know Where Your Students Are?

2. Ways to Gain Feedback on Your Teaching and
How Your Students are Learning
Before the Semester Ends.
Tom O’Brien
Educational Studies and Research

3. Rhythm of the Semester
• What is your perspective for your course(s) on
Day 1?
• Week 1?
• Week 4?
• Midterm?
• Final two weeks of semester?

4. Rhythm of the Semester
• What do you think you students’ perspectives
are?
• Week 1?
• Week 4?
• Midterm?
• Final two weeks of semester?

5. Are they synchronized with you?

6. Are you synchronized with them?

7. Traditional Feedback from Students
• comes after the course ends
• used in the annual review process
• plays into the pre-tenure and tenure review
evaluations

8. Problems with This Feedback
• Comes to late to make any changes or adjustments to
course or instruction
• Does not uncover potential student misunderstanding of
material or learning problems
• Does not address student frustration in a timely manner
• It is high stakes…summative … permanent. It plays into
decisions about your livelihood.

9. Too Little, too Late
(But High Stakes)

11. Possible Solutions

12. • Get feedback (verbal and/or written) on
syllabus on day 2 and day 3 of class meeting
• Establish an email policy (For example: I will return emails
in 48 hours. Replies will be short and quick. If a major explanation is
required, invite the student to make appointment or come to office hours.
Take time in class to explain your email policy.

13. • Highlight your office hours and encourage
students visit you.
• Be available for office hours.
• Know their names.
• Call them by their names in class.

14. While teaching give short
“previews”
&
“reviews”
that link to current lesson.

15. PRE & REV (not my best slide)

16. Try to spend part of every class:
in the students’ heads
rather than your own.

17. Try using
“exit slips” at the end of each class, or
once a week
(or once every two weeks).
3x5 “ 

18. Do a midterm evaluation
of instruction

19. • Refer to syllabus regularly.
• If adjustments are needed (due to
time, assignments etc.) explain them in class
and have students edit the syllabus…
• Or provide students with another e-copy of
updated syllabus.

20. When appropriate MIX IT UP.

21. When a problem arises, ask a
colleague for help

22. Discussion
Questions?
Good luck!