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Mid-Semester Feedback

Option 1: Mid-Semester Feedback Survey

Mid-semester Feedback (MSF) is transitioning to the CoursEval tool, the same platform UMSL uses to collect end-of-course student feedback survey data. We are seeking faculty members interested in piloting the revised question set during the Fall 2024 semester. Please note we are offering the MSF survey pilot for 16-week and 8-week courses only, and the service can be requested for yourself or your Teaching Assistant.

OPT-IN: Fall 2024 Mid-Semester Feedback Pilot 

What is it? A confidential online questionnaire that is administered to students to obtain early feedback on the course. 

What are the benefits? This feedback can be used immediately to adjust or optimize courses while the semester is still in progress, as well as provide insight for personal development while empowering students to feel involved in shaping their educational experience. Research has shown that soliciting mid-semester feedback positively impacts teaching, stimulating and motivating faculty to learn more and improve new teaching methods. Furthermore, it has been shown to have a positive influence on student perceptions, motivations, and engagement and improves end-of-semester feedback results. 

When can you register? Faculty can opt-in to Mid-semester Feedback as soon as the semester begins and continue until registration closes at the end of the day on:

  • Tuesday, September 3, 2024 (8-week 1 courses)
  • Monday, September 16, 2024 (16-week courses)
  • Monday, October 28, 2024 (8-week 2 courses)

Who can see the results? Only the course instructor has access. Survey results are confidential and are not shared with department chairs, deans, or other campus or UM-System administrators. 

When is the survey available for students? Please see the CoursEval Schedule.

Option 2: GIFT (Group Instructional Feedback Technique)

Please note: This option is currently on hiatus. We are revising the GIFT process and hope to have additional options for mid-semester feedback available in Fall 2025.

What is it? A facilitated student group interview about what is working well in a course and where obstacles to learning may be.

  • The instructor explains to the students in the class session prior to the GIFT what will happen during the process, and why the process is being initiated.
  • On the day of the GIFT, the instructor introduces the CTL facilitators and leaves the room.
  • During the last 20-25 minutes of class, the facilitators guide students to reach a consensus around what is fostering their learning, barriers to their learning, and potential solutions to those barriers.
  • The facilitator summarizes the responses, and within one to two days meets with the instructor to discuss the feedback and potential teaching strategies.
  • The instructor reports proposed changes and feedback to the class.
Who can see the results? Only the instructor and the CTL consultant have access to the feedback. 

When can you register? Faculty can register for a GIFT for 16-week classes by the end of the 5th week of the semester and for 8-week classes by the end of the 3rd week of the course. 
 
When should the GIFT be completed? The GIFT should be completed around mid-semester but should not be administered directly before or after a major exam or assignment.

What are the benefits? Confidential feedback can be implemented before final end-of-semester student surveys to optimize learning. The process also empowers students and builds trust with the instructor.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) no longer offers the Mid-semester Design Survey for online courses. If you would like to see the questions that we offered for our course design survey, you can find those questions here. For help and feedback with online courses, please visit the UM-system Office of eLearning.