Student Module Feedback

Student Module Feedback is a key tool for improving the quality of teaching and learning by gathering students' reflections on their module experiences. It focuses on open dialogue between students and instructors, allowing both groups to highlight what works well in each module and what could benefit from improvement. This approach not only enhances academic support but also ensures that students feel heard and valued in shaping their educational environment, fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the university.

We use the Moodle Questionnaire tool to enable an easy self-service setup for Student Module Feedback. Using a template in Moodle, staff can quickly add and activate the feedback survey within their module space by following step-by-step instructions on this page.

The template includes a set of standard questions, allowing data to be aggregated across modules and departments. Students complete the survey anonymously. We recommended setting aside class time to encourage students to complete the survey to increase response rates. Module leaders also have the option to send email reminders to students who haven't yet completed the survey.

Once the survey period ends, authorised departmental staff can preview anonymised responses and download the data for use in Excel or as a standard PDF report. The standard questions are purposefully limited to encourage as many students as possible to provide their feedback and still gather sufficiently broad data.

Standard questions

The University recommends that a common set of questions be used for Student Module Feedback. This is not mandatory but it is strongly recommended and it will assist when departments need to aggregate data across programmes.

The following questions primarily use a five-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) for quantitative analysis, along with 2 open questions to gather some qualitative feedback. Departments can add additional questions if required.

1. Please name the one thing in the module that has had the most impact on your learning (open question)

2. Module content is delivered in an engaging way (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

3. Feedback (on work, in class, or other forms) received on the module enhances my learning (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

4. The module is well organised (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

5. Appropriate support is available to me throughout the module (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

6. The module offers an appropriate level of intellectual challenge (strongly disagree to strongly agree)

7, Is there anything else you would like to add to your feedback? (open question)

Who can access responses

By default, anybody with a Manager, Course Leader, Editing Teacher or Non-editing teacher role in a module can see the Student Module Feedback responses by clicking on the View All Responses link within a module.

Therefore, you should check the participants list before making the Student Module Feedback survey live in your module.

Permissions can be changed at the activity level to ensure that only the Manager, Course Leader or required member of staff from the department can view the results if you choose to limit access.

Student Module Feedback Process

Step 1: Add the template

With editing turned on, hover the dotted line between activities and click on the + symbol, or click 'Add an activity or resource' in the topic/section where you want the Student Module Feedback questionnaire to appear.
Choose 'Questionnaire' from the list.
Type a name in the 'Name' field for the Questionnaire in the box.
IMPORTANT: This 'Name' will be the title of the link on the Moodle course page. We recommend using the Module code and a year identifier as this 'Name' is also what the raw data file will be named when it is downloaded. This is particularly important if you will be working with and saving multiple raw data files.
The 'Description' box can be used to display instructions, inform the student that the Student Module Feedback is anonymous, explain how their data will be used and the time it will take, for example.
Optionally, choose to automatically 'Open' and 'Close' the Student Module Feedback questionnaire at set times by clicking on the relevant tick box and choosing a date. SeePublish to Studentsbelow.
In 'Response options', 'Type' should be 'respond once' (allowing students to only make one response), 'Respondent type' should be 'anonymous', and 'Students can view ALL responses' should be set to 'Never'.
You can choose whether you want Moodle to send the student an email notification of their submission and whether you wish to allow students to Save and later Resume their answers. Submission grade can be ignored for the purpose of Student Module Feedback.
Under 'Content options', choose 'Student Module Feedback Template [Student Module Feedback Original Template]' to use the standard questions. If you wish to add additional questions, please see the box 'Adding questions' below.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'Save and return to course', or 'Save and display' to be able to preview the questionnaire.

Step 2: Publish to students

When will the survey become available?

The survey will either become available to students as soon as it is saved or on the start date if this has been added.

How can I ensure students complete the form?

When the survey goes live, the recommended approach is to put aside five minutes in a taught session to ask students to complete the survey during the session. You can also share the steps opposite which demonstrates how to complete an example feedback form.

This will improve the response rate and ensure that support is available to students in filling out the survey and interpreting the questions.

Moodle also makes it possible to contact non-respondents without compromising their anonymity and remind them to answer the questionnaire.

Step 3: Preview and report on the results

Accessing responses

As soon as the questionnaire has received responses the module leader can preview responses, download feedback as a file, and email a reminder to non-respondents without compromising their anonymity.

View responses to the questionnaire

From the Moodle course page click the Student Module Feedback questionnaire link and then click the 'View All Responses' link in the menu.

A summary of responses will be shown alongside links for contacting non-respondents and downloading the responses.

You can see individual responses by clicking on 'List of responses' in the menu.

Export the data

Export the results of the questionnaire by clicking on View All Responses, and then on Download.

Responses can be downloaded in multiple formats including .csv, .xlsx and .pdf. Each row in the exported data contains a field for: Submitted on (date time), Institution, Department, Course, ID (user ID), Full name, Username, and each question.

Download the responses as a standard PDF report

Click on View All Responses
Find the text: Visible groups: All participants
Click on the PDF icon.
This will allow you to download or open a PDF of the results

Contacting non-respondents

Encourage non-respondents to complete the Student Module Feedback by emailing them. This will help if you are not asking students to complete the feedback form in class.

Click the 'Non-respondents' tab
Select All next to Send message
Type a subject line and the required message
Click 'Send' button at the bottom of the page.

Example .xlsx export

Example .pdf export

Contacting non-respondents

Image reflects the text in the previous box and shows a message being sent to non-respondents.

Optional: Adding additional questions

Add additional questions

Departments can optionally add additional questions to the questionnaireLink opens in a new window.

To add a text collection question, use the 'Essay Box' question type.
For rating questions (i.e. Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree), use the 'Rate Scale (1...5)' type. In the quick view report, this option displays an average out of 5 and the count/percentage of responses per choice. Additionally, this type exports data as numerical values for easier calculation and reporting.

Note: Other types, such as Dropdown Box and Radio Buttons, do not show a numerical average, and responses are exported as text (e.g., Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree) which can make reporting more difficult.

To add a new question to your questionnaire:

Click on the link to the questionnaire from your course page.
Click on Questions and scroll to Add Questions.
Choose the question type from the drop-down list and click 'Add selected question type'.
Choose from one of the following options:

Add an Essay questionLink opens in a new window

Give the question a descriptive name for easy reference in the data download (this won't be visible to participants).
Set whether a response is required.
Select 'Plain text' as the response format.
Leave the input box size at the default of 5 lines (adjustable later if needed).
Enter the question text.
Click 'Save changes' at the bottom.

Add a Rate (scale 1...5) questionLink opens in a new window

The Rate (scale 1...5) question can be set up with descriptive labels

(like Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree). This question type provides a numerical average in reports and raw data files, allowing for advanced analysis.

To set up with labels:

Add a descriptive 'Question Name' (for data download reference only).
Choose whether a response is required.
Enter the number of scale items (default is 5).
Type the question text.
In 'Possible answers,' enter each number, followed by = and the label (e.g., 1=Strongly Disagree).

To set up with numbered ratings:

Add a 'Question Name' (for your reference).
Set if a response is required.
Enter the scale items (default is 5).
Add question text or instructions in the 'Question Text' box.
Click 'Save changes.'