Surveys

Regular and Substantive InteractionSurveys

4 min read

Overview

Surveys are a potential RSI method. Instructors should use a combination of methods most appropriate to the discipline and course. Explore this page to understand how to best create surveys that target student engagement and accreditation/evaluation requirements.

Not All Surveys Are RSI

Not RSI:

Surveys that ask superficial questions about course logistics or satisfaction without going into academic content, student learning, or specific aspects of course delivery fall into this category. Such surveys don't contribute to substantive academic interaction or the improvement of teaching and learning.

Gray Area:

Surveys that include questions related to the course and instruction but lack depth, personalization, or fail to act on the collected feedback are in this category. While these surveys may touch on academics, the absence of follow-through to adapt course content or instructional methods based on feedback limits their effectiveness.

RSI:

Surveys are designed to gather detailed feedback on student learning, challenges, and the effectiveness of course materials and instructional strategies. The key is not just collecting feedback but actively using it to adapt the course. Follow-up actions are communicated back to students.

Self Check

Start with the best example, then click on the other answers for additional guidance!
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An anonymous survey asks about scheduling preferences without addressing any educational content.: NOT RSI: This would not count at RSI.
A survey gathers anonymous feedback on the clarity of lecture materials and the pace of the course. Students do not see direct outcomes from their feedback.: Gray Area: While the survey might touch upon important things, the anonymity could be seen as a barrier to direct, personalized follow-up with students who might need specific guidance or support.
An end-of-module survey asks students to reflect on their understanding of key concepts, the effectiveness of learning materials, and suggestions for improvement. The instructor reviews all feedback, makes adjustments, and shares a summary of the planned changes with the class.: Definitely RSI: This fosters an environment of continuous improvement and engagement.

Can Accreditors and Evaluators Access Surveys?

Start with your best guess, then click on the other answers for additional guidance!
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No: An accreditor/evaluator can note surveys in the Gradebook or view them if published in Canvas course content.

If surveys are conducted but there's no visible outcome or documented response to the feedback within the course structure, it's challenging for evaluators to assess their impact on teaching and learning.
Gray Area (Conditional Visibility): An accreditor/evaluator can note surveys in the Gradebook or view them if published in Canvas course content, but may not see the results, especially if there is no feedback loop documenting the changes made because of the survey.
Yes: An accreditor/evaluator can note surveys in the Gradebook or view them if published in Canvas course content, but may not see the results.

In order to be sure others see surveys as RSI, after collecting survey feedback, the instructor could post a summary of the key points raised by students and outline the specific changes made to the course content, resources, or teaching methods in direct response.

Key Takeaways

Transparency in Action: Clearly communicate to students how their anonymous feedback will influence course adjustments.
Highlight Responsiveness: Within the LMS, showcase the iterative process of collecting, analyzing, and responding to feedback as evidence of an adaptive teaching approach.

Further Examples

Weak Survey Question Example:

"How would you rate the course on a scale from 1 to 5?"

Why It's Weak: This question is overly broad and doesn’t capture specific aspects of the course that could be improved. It relies on a subjective numerical rating, which, without context, offers limited actionable insights for the instructor. It doesn’t probe into the "why" behind the student's rating.

Strong Survey Question Example:

"In reflecting on the range of perspectives and voices included in our course content (such as authors, case studies, and examples), did you feel that diverse viewpoints were adequately represented? Please share any areas where you think we could improve on incorporating a broader spectrum of perspectives, or if there were specific content that you found particularly inclusive or exclusive."

Why It's Strong: By asking for specific examples of content that students found inclusive or exclusive, the instructor can gather actionable feedback that can be used to make the course more equitable and representative of diverse viewpoints.

How and Why to Create and View Surveys

A sample survey is available to import via Canvas Commons--just search "Adelle Roe."

Why Surveys?

Canvas Guide to Creating Surveys Links to an external site.

Canvas Guide to Viewing Survey Results Links to an external site.

Video Guide to Quizzes (4.5 minutes):