6 Benefits for Students in Completing Online Course Evaluations

Yesterday, we reviewed the benefits of using online course evaluations for instructors. There are also many advantages to using web-based assessments for your students. Whether you’re currently transitioning to an online system or you’re a long time user, there are many student benefits to highlight that instructors or administrators should make clear. Below you will find six benefits to get your students more engaged in the process. Feel free to use these as a start for your talking points when launching online evaluations with your class.

1. Anonymity:

   As we’ve mentioned before, assuring your students that their feedback will remain confidential is imperative. This is a key benefit for students as they no longer have to worry that their responses can be attributed directly to them. As a result, they feel more comfortable in sharing their insights on the course and teacher.

2. Faster questionnaires:

   The ability for them to complete surveys more quickly, since entering your personal information is no longer necessary, makes the process seem like less of a chore. Furthermore, your students will appreciate that you realize their time is valuable.

3. Accessible to all:

   A great advantage of using an online system is that it makes evaluations accessible to all students. With paper-based in-class surveys there remains a possibility that some students with impairments or disabilities would not be able to contribute. Now, everyone can have an equal opportunity to have their say. This not only benefits those students with impairments, but also the entire student body as it allows for a greater range of feedback to be gathered.

4. Convenience:

   It’s important that students know how convenient it is for them to fill out online assessments. Remind them that they can access the evaluation through the student portal at any time and can stop and restart if necessary. Advise students that they can access the questionnaire from any device including tablets, laptops and other input devices.

5. Valuable input:

   It’s not enough to encourage your students to fill out the evaluation, you need to tell them that their input is valuable and why. Knowing how the feedback will be used will make students feel more invested and interested in the process. Let them know that they play an active role in shaping the curriculum and in how the course is taught. As a further enticement, let your students know that their feedback also improves the quality of education at the institution for future students.

6. Saves paper:

   Don’t overlook the key benefit of saving paper when using an online system. Students are becoming more and more environmentally conscious and like to know they’re contributing to a greener environment. To illustrate this point, tell your students how much in the way of savings your institution has achieved since online evaluations have been implemented.

Do you think the above are good points to stress with students? What other benefits have you highlighted to increase student engagement? Let us know.