The SPOT (Student Perceptions of Teaching) system for collecting end-of-course feedback was updated during summer 2024. Instructors can now use the SPOT system to request midterm student feedback with the same questions that are used on the end-of-semester form.
The Midterm SPOT Check is limited to the same questions that students are asked on the end-of-semester SPOT form. For instructors who want to ask students about issues that are not addressed by the SPOT questions, a number of other options are available.
Creating a Midterm SPOT Check
Creating a Midterm SPOT Check
To create a Midterm SPOT Check for your course, go to the SPOT link on the sidebar of your ICON site. The "Courses" tab within the SPOT system will show you the courses you are teaching for the current semester that are scheduled to receive end-of-course SPOT survey invitations. For the course in which you’d like to schedule a Midterm SPOT Check, follow these steps:
- Click on the dropdown menu in the "Options" column for the course,
- Select "Create Midterm Survey", and
- Select the dates for administering the survey.
After the survey closing date, you can visit the "Reports" tab within the SPOT system to view a summary of students’ anonymous responses.
Reports of your Midterm SPOT Checks will remain available in ICON. No one in your department or college administration will know that you requested a Midterm SPOT Check or be able to review the report unless you choose to download a copy and share the PDF.
If you are interested in learning more about getting constructive midterm feedback from students in your course, contact the Center for Teaching to consult on strategies for collecting and interpreting midterm feedback and best ways to respond to students.
Opening a Dialogue
One essential element of midterm feedback is responding to students after you have reviewed their responses. Many instructors have observed that acknowledging student feedback is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate responsiveness to student concerns, and not acknowledging their feedback can be more de-motivating for students than not asking for feedback at all. Acknowledgements to students are most effective when you:
- Thank students for taking time to provide constructive feedback,
- Acknowledge student recognition of what’s going well for them in the course,
- Identify student feedback that will help shape your teaching during the remainder of the course, and
- Clarify purposes or provide additional support in areas where you’re not able to make changes students have suggested.