photo © 2009 Catherine Segovia | more info (via: Wylio)Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) is a part of the instructor’s classroom, but what about feedback for TAs and GAs? Although evaluating the assistant(s) contribution to the learning experience isn’t part of the standard SET sheet, there’s no reason why you can’t ask for student feedback in the middle and/or at the end of term. Getting feedback after a few weeks of class helps you find out what’s working and where you can make improvements while there’s still time for it to make a difference for the students you’re working with now. Putting out fires before they get out of control improves the teaching and learning experience for everyone. However, in order to do this, you need to know where the hot spots are.

Asking for feedback can take many forms. Here are some ideas to get you started, but please post your own in the comments:

• Have a conversation with your students. Schedule it on the class lab or tutorial schedule and ask specific, open-ended questions about the techniques, tools, and other parts of your course.
• Pass out blank sheets of paper and ask students to anonymously record two things that are working for them in the course (2 Pluses) and one thing they’d like to change (A Wish). This technique is called “Two Pluses and A Wish” (sometimes known as “Three Pluses,” depending how much time you have).
• Create a form asking students to check boxes, fill in text areas, or rank their favourite items (readings, activities, etc.) to least favourite.

Collecting feedback can give you an idea where your students are at and help you become a more effective teacher. The feedback you receive can also become part of your teaching dossier.

Whatever method you choose to use, be sure to spend time going through the feedback you collect. Pay attention and consider each item and how it relates to the learning objectives set out for the course. If you’d like to discuss the feedback you’ve received and look for ways to act on it, you can contact the campus centre for teaching and learning.