By KIMBERLY ROSS

 At the end of each term, students are given the opportunity to provide feedback about the outcome of a course. One such means is the Student Survey of Instruction (SSI).

This questionnaire is designed for students to offer their opinions regarding the operation of a class, the methods of instruction, the effectiveness of the teaching methods, and the facilitation for learning. 

The environment in which a student learns, as well as the treatment he or she receives from the instructor, has a direct bearing on whether a successful outcome will be achieved. For instance, if a student feels lost in the crowd due to a large class size or because of difficulty in understanding the material, this may eventually lead a student to withdraw from a course.

Feelings of doubt and inadequacy can creep in and make a student feel like a failure and lose motivation to thrive.

 To prevent this, it is imperative that students take the SSI seriously, giving careful thought to their responses to questions such as, “Were the instructor’s teaching methods effective?” and “Was understanding of the course material increased by the end of the course?”

Being honest in answering such questions allow the “powers that be” to carefully examine the design of the course to know where improvements need to be made in the future. 

So instead of viewing the SSI as a nuisance, view it as a chance to make a difference for students, instructors, and the whole St. Petersburg College community.