Increasing response rates is only half the battle when it comes to course evaluations. The real challenge? Getting feedback that’s actually useful. While it’s great when students take the time to complete evaluations, responses like “Good class” or “Great professor” don’t offer much insight.
So how can instructors encourage students to provide thoughtful, detailed feedback that helps improve courses and teaching methods? It turns out, a little guidance goes a long way.
Here are some simple, effective strategies to get more meaningful responses from students—and how SmartEvals makes the process even easier.
1. Explain Why Feedback Matters
Students are more likely to take evaluations seriously when they understand their purpose and impact. Before sending out evaluations, take a few minutes to explain how their responses are used.
✔ Let them know that their feedback influences future course improvements.
✔ Share examples of past changes made based on student input (if applicable).
✔ Emphasize that thoughtful responses help improve teaching methods and learning experiences for future students.
When students see that their opinions have real value, they’re more likely to put effort into their responses.
2. Ask for Specifics (and Give Examples!)
One of the easiest ways to get better feedback is to give students a framework for their responses. Instead of asking, “What did you think of the course?”, encourage them to be more specific.
Try this approach:
📝 Instead of: “What did you like about the course?”
✅ Ask: “What aspects of this course helped you learn the material effectively?”
📝 Instead of: “How can this course be improved?”
✅ Ask: “Was there anything about the assignments, lectures, or discussions that could be adjusted to improve your understanding of the material?”
Students often want to provide useful feedback but aren’t sure what details to include. By giving them a little structure, you help them provide insights that can actually be used.
3. Use SmartEvals to Add Custom Questions
SmartEvals makes it easy for instructors to customize evaluations by adding their own questions. This is a great way to gather feedback on specific teaching methods, course activities, or instructional materials.
Some effective custom questions include:
✔ “Which assignment or activity was the most valuable for your learning, and why?”
✔ “Did the course structure help you stay engaged with the material? If not, what could be improved?”
✔ “What specific suggestions do you have for making this course even better next semester?”
By tailoring questions to your specific course and teaching style, you’ll get insightful responses that generic evaluation forms might miss.
4. Encourage Open-Ended Responses
Multiple-choice questions provide useful data, but open-ended responses offer deeper insights. Students may skip these sections if they feel like their feedback won’t be read or valued.
One way to encourage more engagement is to acknowledge past feedback and show that it leads to action. For example:
📢 Before evaluations open, tell your students:
“In previous semesters, students mentioned that more real-world examples would be helpful, so I’ve incorporated case studies into this course. Your feedback helps shape future improvements!”
When students see that their voices matter, they’re more likely to share detailed, constructive feedback rather than just checking boxes.
5. Follow Up with a Thank-You Message
Another great feature of SmartEvals? Instructors can send personalized thank-you emails to students who complete their evaluations.
A simple acknowledgment goes a long way in reinforcing a culture of feedback. Something as quick as:
📧 Subject: Thank You for Your Feedback!
“Hi [Student’s Name], thank you for taking the time to complete your course evaluation. Your feedback helps improve this class and future courses, and I appreciate your input! Have a great rest of the semester.”
This small gesture encourages students to continue providing thoughtful responses in future evaluations.
Final Thoughts: Quality Over Quantity
While increasing response rates is important, the quality of feedback matters even more. Thoughtful, detailed student responses lead to stronger course improvements, better teaching strategies, and a better learning experience overall.
With SmartEvals, instructors have the tools to encourage meaningful feedback—from adding custom questions to sending direct email reminders and thank-you messages. The more engaged instructors are in the process, the more useful the feedback will be.
Ready to start gathering more insightful course evaluations? Let SmartEvals help!
