Using Mid-Semester Feedback to Encourage Student Learning

Mid-semester feedback, which can come in many forms but often through mid-term grades, allows faculty to "check the pulse” of their class, students, or groups partway through a semester. Following up with students who have received feedback, grades, or evaluations during the middle of the semester can be a valuable approach for encouraging learning. 

The following strategies can allow you to encourage learning and successful academic performance during the semester:

• Use mid-term grades and other “mid-semester” forms of evaluation and feedback as an opportunity for reflection. Provide students with the feedback they need to be successful, improve, or build on their prior performance in the course.

• Provide students who’ve experienced challenges or have had to miss due to illness with opportunities to demonstrate learning of course content. 

• Allow students to “recover” points or assignments missed due to challenges or illness. These opportunities can demonstrate learning or acquisition of class content. 

• Provide students with opportunities to learn from and reflect on previous assignments to reinforce metacognition. 

• Offer students opportunities for revision that reinforce learning, understanding of course content, and growth mindset during the middle of the semester. 

• Avoid surprises by providing students with regular formal and informal feedback that promotes a positive learning environment and student continuation. 

• Provide “drop-in” hours for students to share how they are approaching learning in the course, to receive informal feedback, and to build a supportive community.