8 Tips to Increasing Course Evaluation Completion Rates

In our previous posts, we looked at how to develop effective course evaluations and how to increase your evaluation response rates. However, what do you do if you encounter high drop-off rates? If you’re struggling with low completion rates there are several tactics you should implement to increase it. Here are eight tips to combat low completion rates from accessibility to skip navigation, from completion time to student portal integration.

1. Accessibility

   Make the course evaluation accessible online so that students can provide feedback in any way they can through a laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Utilizing an online system like Blue/Evaluations allows course evaluations to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week from any browser, input device or Internet connection.

2. Ability to return to evaluations

   Having your course evaluations accessible online 24-7 allows your students the ability to save their answers and return to the evaluation later if necessary.

3. Anonymity

   It is imperative to stress that the results of the evaluation will remain confidential. Students will feel more comfortable providing feedback, and completing the evaluation, if they are assured anonymity.

4. Completion time

   Accurately state the time it will take to complete the evaluation. If you say it will take 15 minutes to complete, time it to make sure this is accurate. You don’t want students to abandon the evaluation because it takes much longer than anticipated.

5. Progress bar

   It’s helpful to add a progress bar to your online course evaluations. This allows students to visually see where they are in the process of completing the questionnaire. Using a progress bar, along with accurately stating how long the evaluation will take, will avoid student frustration and drop-off.

6. Keep it short

   Often when a questionnaire is too long the result is higher drop-off rates. Avoid this by setting clearly defined goals for the evaluation and writing clear, specific questions. Set a question limit and stick to it.

7. Skip navigation

   It’s important to use an online system that allows for skip navigation. One way to avoid student frustration is to use a mixture of mandatory and optional questions. That way, students can skip optional questions or questions where they do not have an opinion. Students are more prone to complete an evaluation where they do not have to answer every question.

8. Single sign on

   Using a course evaluation system that can connect with your current authentication source for single sign-on access ensures that students won’t be repeatedly asked demographic questions, such as name, age, ID number, etc. in order to access their course evaluations. Moreover, making your evaluations accessible through your student portal also allows you to send automatic reminders to those who haven’t completed the evaluation. Again, it all boils down to the following: the easier and more accessible you make the process the more likely students are to complete the evaluation.

Are you experiencing low course evaluation completion rates? Have you tried any of the above tactics? Let us know if they are working for you. Also share with us any additional tips you have.