In our inaugural teaching post for the Pedagogy Next “Voices from the Faculty” series, Dr. Peter Nkhoma shares insights about seeking feedback from his students. Check out his suggestion here.
I use this simple assessment-for-learning strategy in my smaller classes: I provide students with small booklets where they can record questions about concepts or ideas they didn’t understand or want to explore further. I address these questions in subsequent lectures. Students also use the booklets to note anything they found particularly interesting, share their thoughts on how the lesson went, and provide feedback on which teaching activities were effective or should be adjusted.
This approach has not only helped me connect with students and demonstrated that I value their participation, ideas, and learning, but it has also opened up opportunities for enriching class discussions. Additionally, it has provided insights into students’ thinking and introduced new perspectives that I did not anticipate. The technique fosters a sense of ownership in the learning process, encourages reflective thinking, and helps create a more inclusive and responsive classroom environment. Moreover, it provides me with valuable feedback to continuously refine my teaching methods and tailor lessons to meet the needs of the class more effectively. However, it may be challenging to implement in larger classes.
This teaching suggestion is from Dr. Peter R. Nkhoma.
The image above is of Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Peter Nkhoma, History and Geography Department, College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Nkhoma’s Bio:
I am a Visiting Assistant Professor of Geography in the Department of History and Geography. Previously, I taught in the School of Geosciences and Honors College at the University of South Florida. My teaching experience spans secondary and higher education in Africa, the UK, and the US.
Disclaimer:
All viewpoints are individual faculty members’ perspectives, not those of The University of Texas at Arlington or the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Excellence (CRTLE).
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