For faculty and instructors, the beginning of the semester presents us with a formidable new cohort of students, each with unique abilities, experiences, and course goals. For students, the start of a new course can begin with apprehension about their readiness for the course and the expectations of their new instructor. A Student Readiness Survey can work to assist both students and instructors in creating an inclusive atmosphere, building community, and establishing common ground beyond the typical getting-to-know-you survey or icebreakers.
Student Readiness Survey
A typical Student Readiness Survey includes questions about students’ access to technology, if they have designated study space, and more. These questions can help you and your students understand what resources and tools they will need this semester and their relative familiarity with them. For students already familiar with the technologies you use, it can boost confidence to learn how they will apply them in new ways. For students less familiar, it can be an excellent opportunity to introduce supplemental materials, videos, and practice options to help them quickly get up to speed.
Deep Dive: Where are you now?
Extended versions of a student readiness survey can include more personal questions about self-motivation, time management, and more. These questions can help you understand where your students are physically and how the pandemic may have impacted their mental health.
You could ask...
- Where are you filling out this survey?
- Where do you usually study for this course?
- How has the pandemic impacted your learning?
Though a survey can seem a bit impersonal, it can still signal to your students that you see them as whole human beings with lives outside your class.
Tip: Use Google Forms
For courses I teach, I use a Google Form for my Start of the Semester Survey. Utilizing Google Forms automatically sets up a spreadsheet with all my students’ names that I continue to use throughout the semester. For online courses, I even add pictures (from my class roster) to the spreadsheet. I track who I am contacting and why, as I try to connect with everyone at some point throughout the semester. Learn how to print a class roster with photos.
Example Surveys
- Start of the semester check-in survey
- PDF version of Start of the semester check-in survey
- Make your own copy of Start of the semester check-in survey
(customize for your own use) - Student Readiness Tech Survey (CEHD)
- Technology Inventory Example (Writing Across the Curriculum)
- Learning Online 101 student readiness survey
Other Start of Semester Ideas
While a survey isn’t all you need to do to create and maintain a welcoming and inclusive space, it is a good starting point, especially if you can discuss responses with your students, collectively or one-on-one. Students' perception of instructor interest and caring have large effects on students' motivation and academic success!
A few other ideas for the first week of class include:
- Create an introductory video of yourself (that includes your passion for the course topic).
- Have students introduce themselves with something a little extra/creative.
- Start the first week with something small yet active.
Engaging students during the first week of class, with course content, their peers, and with you models your expectations for an active and community-building semester.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Dan Emery for his contributions and assistance with this post!