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This article will teach you nine effective ways to use student feedback to increase their engagement and provide them with an unforgettable student orientation experience.
Neglecting students' feedback is among the top mistakes institutions and colleges keep repeating. Student feedback collection should be one of the top priorities, as it will help you understand their mindset, expectations, and their likes/dislikes about your system.
It will also help students feel heard and motivate them to participate in active learning—something many institutions fail to understand.
With that in mind, here are nine ways to incorporate meaningful student feedback collection into your orientation programs and increase student engagement exponentially.
Credit: Gabriel Manjarres
It is common knowledge that attention can wander easily nowadays. However, creating an interactive and engaging environment can make all the difference in keeping students focused.
In 2024, interactive gamification is among the top trends in student orientation. You need a system that allows 'instant' feedback so that teachers can encourage active participation and make the classroom experience more vibrant.
Among the benefits of these approaches is a judgment-free space for students to express themselves. Whether via a quiz to assess understanding, a class vote, or even an icebreaker, encouraging feedback helps students feel more connected to the lesson. When responses remain anonymous, students tend to be more honest.
Besides, introducing elements of friendly competition can boost engagement among the students. You can reward participation or correct answers with points to a class leaderboard, which may inspire students to stay involved.
Journaling is often overlooked - but it's another creative way to gather feedback. Encouraging students to write about their learning experience provides rich, insightful feedback that goes beyond a simple rating.
Weekly prompts can guide them to reflect on their learning progress, challenges, and how the class has impacted their understanding.
For added flexibility, offer students the choice between private or shared entries. Everyone has a choice, some might prefer private reflections, while others may enjoy sharing their thoughts with classmates to build a sense of community and shared learning. Journaling offers teachers a deeper view of the student experience that other methods might overlook. Take the table below as a reference:
What was the most valuable thing you learned this week?
Helps identify key takeaways.
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Encourages problem-solving reflection.
How did a specific teaching method affect your understanding?
Provides feedback on instructional approaches.
What moments stood out as particularly successful or difficult?
Highlights areas for improvement or further support.
Credit: Ron Lach
One of the best ways to promote engagement is by handing the reins to the students themselves. Organize student-led discussions where the leadership role rotates weekly. The discussion leader can be responsible for framing the conversation, guiding their peers through the material, and ensuring everyone has the chance to participate.
This method benefits both the discussion leader and the participants. The leader gains confidence, public speaking skills, and a deeper understanding of the material they are presenting. Their peers, on the other hand, get the chance to engage in a more informal, student-driven conversation that might feel more accessible than a teacher-led discussion.
To increase the level of feedback, incorporate peer-to-peer feedback sessions into these discussions. After each session, students can offer constructive feedback on how the leader facilitated the discussion, what worked well, and what could be improved. This creates a cycle of continuous learning where students not only engage with the material but also learn how to support and critique one another effectively.
Feedback systems don't have to be dull, one-time surveys. Why not add a bit of fun to the mix by creating a gamified feedback system? Using a points-based method, students can earn rewards for submitting thoughtful feedback consistently throughout the semester.
For example, you can assign points for each feedback submission and award extra points for particularly detailed or constructive feedback. These points can contribute toward class rewards, such as extra credit or fun class activities. Creating a system where students earn tangible benefits for their participation transforms the feedback process from a chore into an exciting, ongoing activity.
Students are much more likely to give honest and consistent feedback when there's an element of excitement or reward involved. Over time, this builds a culture of active participation, where students know their contributions are valued—not just in terms of how they shape the class, but also in terms of what they gain in return.
Feedback collection shouldn't stop at course content. Know that it's just as important to consider the broader student experience. Are students satisfied with their campus accommodation? How easy is it for them to access resources and navigate the campus? Do they find the instructions given by the institution clear and helpful?
But here's the deal, using a student orientation system like Orientus, institutions can gather feedback on essential aspects of campus life, ranging from accommodation quality to the usefulness of resources like libraries, study centers, or online learning tools. It also collects insights into how accessible campus facilities are and whether students feel they can easily reach important services.
The best part? Students can provide their feedback quickly and easily, all from one platform. Orientus compiles the data and presents it in a way that administrators can easily act on.
When institutions take student feedback seriously and implement changes based on what they hear, it enhances the overall student experience and helps improve academic and holistic satisfaction.
Book your free Orientus demo today!
While digital methods have become the norm, the good old-fashioned suggestion box still holds value. Offering both physical and digital suggestion boxes allows students to submit feedback anonymously whenever the moment strikes. The anonymity ensures that students feel comfortable being honest, whether they're discussing big-picture ideas or smaller, more personal concerns.
The trick to making suggestion boxes effective is transparency and follow-through. It's not enough to collect suggestions—you need to show students that their input matters. This can be done by regularly reviewing the suggestions and implementing changes where appropriate. For example, a class could have a monthly review session where the teacher shares anonymous suggestions and discusses how the class might respond to them.
When students see their suggestions being put into action, it reinforces the idea that their voices are valued and that they can contribute to shaping their own educational experience.
Credit: Cottonbro CG Studio
The traditional end-of-semester survey often comes too late to make any meaningful changes to the course. Instead, a mid-semester survey allows teachers to check in while there's still time to address concerns and adjust the course.
This survey should strike a balance between quantitative and qualitative questions. Quantitative questions (such as rating satisfaction on a scale) provide a clear, measurable view of the class's performance. Qualitative questions, on the other hand, offer students the chance to express their thoughts more freely—what's working, what isn't, and what they'd like to see change.
Don't forget the most important step: following up on the results. Share the findings with the class and outline any changes you plan to make. This closes the loop and shows students that their feedback doesn't just disappear into a void—it directly influences how the course is structured.
Personalized feedback sessions offer a focused opportunity for students to share their experiences. Scheduling brief one-on-one check-ins throughout the semester can help address concerns that may not surface in group discussions.
These meetings don't need to be long—just 10-15 minutes per student can provide valuable insights. Here are some examples of how these sessions can be used effectively:
Finally, one of the most empowering ways to collect feedback and increase engagement is through collaborative syllabus design. Instead of presenting a fixed syllabus at the start of the semester, involve students in the planning process.
This doesn't mean giving them complete control but allowing for their input in areas like assignment deadlines, project options, and even assessment criteria. When students feel like they have a say in the course structure, they're more likely to take ownership of their learning and stay engaged throughout the semester.
As the course progresses, check in with the class to see if adjustments are needed. Is the pace too fast? Do students feel the assessment methods are fair? Making these adjustments based on ongoing feedback helps keep the course dynamic and responsive to student needs.
Student feedback collection is pivotal for understanding their learning experience. If teachers collect regular feedback, they can make timely adjustments to the course, improving both student satisfaction and engagement.
You can gather feedback through various methods like reflective journaling, mid-semester surveys, one-on-one check-ins, and student-led discussions. Each method offers different insights into student learning and experience.
Anonymous suggestion boxes, either physical or digital, are effective ways to gather honest feedback. Mid-semester surveys can also be structured to ensure anonymity, encouraging students to share their thoughts freely.
Gamification, such as using leaderboards and points, turns feedback collection into a fun activity. It motivates students to participate by adding a competitive element, making the process more engaging and interactive.
The ideal time to gather feedback is mid-semester, when there’s still an opportunity to make meaningful changes. Waiting until the end of the semester may be too late to adjust the course structure effectively.
Institutions, colleges, and orientation teams: It is high time that you recognize the importance of student feedback collection. It won't just enhance the learning environment—it will transform it into an interactive, engaging space where students feel empowered. From using anonymous suggestion boxes to collaborating on syllabus design, these nine methods provide practical and thoughtful ways to gather feedback while keeping students actively involved. When students see their feedback leading to real changes, it strengthens their connection to the course and deepens their learning experience.
Make feedback collection easy and efficient with Orientus—GR Tech's student orientation software. Orientus provides numerous advanced tools for gathering and analyzing student feedback, including anonymous surveys, suggestion boxes, and one-on-one meetings. With Orientus, you can get valuable insights into your students' experiences and make data-driven decisions to improve your programs.
Don't wait! Book a free Orientus demo today!
I'm a highly skilled project manager with extensive experience in the education technology industry. With a background in computer science and a passion for improving educational outcomes, I have dedicated my career to developing innovative software solutions that make learning more engaging, accessible, and effective.
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