Nearly a month has passed since the launch of the NSS so we thought it would be helpful to share some good ideas from colleagues across the university who have achieved strong early response rates.
Identify Key Timetabled Sessions
The Dental School used a mock exam feedback session to run through the NSS information slides at the end. Why not go one step further and also leave time for students to complete the survey on their mobile devices?
Strategy and Planning
The School of Arts and Cultures devised a communication plan to keep their Media students aware of what was happening which included;
- Welcome back emails at the start of Semester 2 highlighting actions already taken as a result of student feedback
- A brief introduction to the NSS around the launch date to explain how it works and that they will be given time the following week to complete the survey
- A detailed presentation one week after opening followed by time to complete the survey before main lecture started
- Communication of response rates to students, thanking them and sending reminders if necessary
In the future it is envisaged that this strategy will be rolled out across other programmes in the School.
Promoting a strong student/staff partnership
Professor Janice Ellis from the Dental School told us; ‘…we have good Student/Staff committee structures and in the general we have tried to promote an environment in which students genuinely feel that their opinion is valued. This has been reflected recently in student comments at the Student Staff Committee’.
A key theme emerging is that Schools who promote an environment where students feel that their opinion is valued tend to achieve higher response rates.
This can be achieved by actively ‘closing the loop’ through demonstrating and communicating actions taken following Student Staff Committees, Module Evaluation and Stage Evaluation throughout all stages of degree programmes.
If you have any initiatives that you have introduced in house in an effort to boost response rates or encourage student engagement with the NSS and would like to share your ideas, then please contact the Learning and Teaching Development Service by emailing ltds@ncl.ac.uk