How to Write an Effective Course Evaluation
Your feedback is vital for improving the quality of education at South Plains College. When completing your course evaluation in Anthology Evaluate, your responses help faculty understand what works well and what needs improvement in their teaching and course design. This is your chance to share your honest, thoughtful opinions, beyond just the grade you're making.
Here’s a guide to help you provide meaningful and constructive feedback:
1. Understand the Purpose
Course evaluations are not about how much you like or dislike a professor personally or the grade you’re making. Instead, they’re about helping your instructor improve the course for future students. Your comments should focus on:
- The structure of the course
- The teaching methods
- The materials and resources
- Your overall learning experience
2. Reflect on Your Experience
Before you start, take a moment to think about:
- The Good: What helped you learn? Consider specific aspects like lectures, assignments, discussions, or resources.
- The Challenges: What made the course difficult or less effective? Were there areas where you felt lost or unsupported?
- Your Growth: How has this course impacted your skills, knowledge, or perspective?
3. Be Specific
Vague comments like "The class was great" or "The professor was bad" don’t give enough information. Be detailed and specific so faculty can understand your perspective. Examples:
- Helpful Feedback: "The weekly quizzes helped me stay on track and understand the material better."
- Constructive Feedback: "The instructions for the final project were unclear; more examples or a rubric would have been helpful."
4. Balance Positives and Negatives
Faculty appreciate hearing about what works well just as much as they need to know what could improve. Balance your feedback by including both:
- Positive Example: "The group discussions were engaging and made the material easier to understand."
- Improvement Example: "Sometimes the lectures moved too quickly, making it hard to take notes. Slowing down or providing an outline would help."
5. Focus on the Course, Not the Grade
Remember, your grade is not a reflection of the course design or the professor’s teaching. Avoid comments like:
- "I didn’t like the course because I’m failing." Instead, consider:
- "The grading criteria were unclear, and I wasn’t sure how to improve my work."
6. Use Respectful Language
Even if you had a challenging experience, keep your tone professional and respectful. Faculty are eager to improve, and your constructive feedback can help. Avoid overly emotional or personal attacks, and focus on the course and teaching methods.
7. Answer All Questions Thoughtfully
Anthology Evaluate will include both multiple-choice questions and open-ended prompts. Take time to:
- Carefully choose your answers for scaled questions.
- Provide meaningful responses to open-ended questions. These are where your detailed insights can make the most difference.
Sample Open-Ended Questions
Here are examples of the kinds of thoughtful answers faculty are looking for:
- What did you enjoy most about this course? "The real-world examples used in lectures made the material relatable and easier to understand."
- What could improve your learning experience in this course? "Adding more interactive activities, like case studies or group projects, would make the material more engaging."
- Additional comments? "I appreciated how approachable and supportive the professor was during office hours."
8. Submit on Time
Evaluations are often open for a limited period at the end of the semester. Completing your evaluation on time ensures your voice is heard and can influence future improvements.
9. Know Your Feedback is Anonymous
Your responses are anonymous and aggregated with others, so don’t hesitate to provide honest feedback. Faculty cannot see your name or grades, only the content of your feedback.
Final Thought
Your course evaluation is one of the most effective ways to share your experiences and contribute to improving South Plains College. Faculty genuinely want to know what you’re thinking—both the good and the bad—so take this opportunity to provide constructive, actionable feedback.
Thank you for helping make SPC even better for future students!
