Students are often hard to get feedback from. They’re frequently asked for input across multiple surveys, which can lead to fatigue and low engagement. The tips below focus on simple, practical ways to increase response rates and gather feedback that is genuinely representative and useful—without adding extra work for you.
Tips to get better student feedback
1. Ask at the right moment
For mid‑module feedback, the best results come from asking students during a scheduled teaching session, not after it.
- Show the QR code at the start of the session
- Explain what the survey is and why it matters
- Give students 5–10 minutes immediately to complete it (not at the end, and not during a break)
Relying on “I’ll upload the link later” or VLE‑only approaches consistently see much lower engagement than those who build it into teaching time.
2. Tell students how their feedback will be used
Students are far more likely to respond when they understand the purpose.
A short explanation helps, for example:
- What kind of changes you might make
- How feedback has helped previous cohorts
- Reassurance that constructive criticism is welcome
This framing turns the survey from a tick‑box exercise into something students feel is genuinely worthwhile.
3. Keep surveys short and focused
Shorter surveys = higher completion rates.
- Aim for 2–5 questions
- Use a mix of one or two closed questions (to give you a clear signal) and one open question (for context)
- Avoid trying to ask everything at once
For mid‑module feedback especially, you’re looking for directional insight, not a full evaluation report.
4. Use anonymity to encourage honesty
Anonymous surveys consistently result in:
- More candid responses
- Better engagement from quieter students
- More balanced feedback in large cohorts
Make it clear to students that responses are anonymous, particularly for open‑text questions.
5. Make access effortless
Remove as many barriers as possible:
- Use a QR code or short link
- Avoid asking students to navigate multiple systems
- Don’t rely solely on VLE/LMS links for completion
Students are much more likely to respond when the survey is one scan or click away and clearly signposted in the session.
Read this article on how to set up a mid-module feedback survey in Vevox in a few steps.