Tips for Gathering and Using Student Opinion

Gathering your Classmates' Opinions

  • Think back to your class rep training for some examples of how to gather feedback from your classmates, e.g.
    • Emails
    • Face to Face chats (these might now take place on Zoom, Teams, etc)
    • Other online spaces (e.g. facebook, twitter, VLE (Moodle) etc)
    • Hands up before/after class
    • Surveys
    • Post-it notes in tutorials
    • Comment boxes
  • Remember to get permission and support from the appropriate staff if you plan to use class time, or create a physical resource such as a comment box.
  • Think about using online polls for instant feedback on simple questions
  • Use examples from the Learning Experience to gather more specific feedback (your Class Rep Training has more on this including a downloadable list of suggested questions).
  • Ask for positive as well as negative feedback.  Staff on your course need to know what’s working well, not just a list of complaints.  You could ask students to give you ‘Two Stars and a Wish’ or use categories ‘Start, Stop and Keep doing…’.
  • Remember the ABCD of Effective Feedback (from the Class Rep Training)
  • If you’re asking for feedback by email or online, give the other students time to respond, don’t leave it till the night before the meeting.
  • Remember to let the other students know what you’ve raised at the meeting and what was agreed would be done.  (i.e. close the feedback loop).

Practice Examples

These suggestions are taken from 'Best Student Rep' nominations in the Student Teaching Awards.

  • Treat it like a real job
  • Create a digest of what you are going to talk about with the admins before you meet.
  • Think about how visible you are to those you represent.  How can you improve on that?  Can you ask for time to stand up in class?  Are your photo and contact details available on MyClassReps, Moodle or somewhere the students will see them?  If not can you speak to your School about getting this done?

Practice Example - the Adam Smith Business School provides details of its undergraduate class reps on Moodle, including photos and contact details for them.

  • If there is a club or society associated with your subject, engage with it – you may be able to gather more feedback through informal channels.  SRC Clubs and Societies search.
  • Give your constituents regular and prompt feedback on what you are doing.
  • Consider how you can proactively gather feedback from the quieter students in your class, without putting them on the spot or being overly intrusive.
  • Build relationships with staff and with other academic reps.
  • Create a mini-survey for your class (always check with admins that this doesn’t clash with anything the School is doing).
  • You don’t have to wait for a meeting to come up to take action. 

Practice Example (undergraduate rep) - "Our rep listened to our class' voices and worked with the other class rep to form a letter addressed to the department regarding this issue and made the extra effort to discuss this letter with the year 1 head." 

  • Consider organising a class meeting or get-together outside of class time, so that your class mates can discuss their experiences and you can harvest lots of useful feedback.

Practice Example (postgraduate rep) - "This year she has been organising the weekly "Thursday Fika" events that we have in the postgraduate space of the new building. Each Thursday one or two offices will bake for the rest of the offices, and then all the PGRs will get together for a morning cake and tea/coffee break. There's always a great selection of baking, from all over the world."

  • Be inclusive – make an extra effort to understand the concerns of all your students including those who might not be familiar with the UK education system.