Each semester, Temple students provide feedback on course materials and instruction using Student Feedback Forms (SFFs). Temple first implemented a university-wide system for evaluating courses in 2002, and has enhanced the form and systems periodically including in 2012 when administration moved from paper forms to online. In fall 2020, the university implemented a new form and system, developed by the joint faculty and staff Assessment of Instruction Committee (AIC), the Office of Institutional Research & Assessment, and Information Technology Services (ITS).
New SFF System
The main objective for the development of the new SFF system is to provide useful course and teaching data that recognizes the diversity of the programs within the Temple's schools/colleges by allowing for question selection down to the course/instructor level. This creates a form and evaluation process that better aligns with department, program and instructor needs, making for a more purposeful evaluation of courses and teaching.
The new version of the SFF includes eight, university-level items common to all students: five response-scale items, and three open-ended questions. The main feature of the new system is that it allows forms to be customized with the ability to add items at several levels.
- Instructor (ability to add up to 4 items)
- Subject area/department (ability to add up to 3 items)
- School/college (ability to add up to 3 items)
- Special designation (Honors, Online, Writing Intensive and General Education; ability to add up to 2 items each)
This allows instructors, departments, and colleges to each assess aspects of courses and instruction that are of most value to them.
Links & Resources
The new SFF system is intuitive and easy to use, and the resources below have been developed to guide users through the new features, including a short instructional video demonstrating how instructors add items to their SFF. These resources are also available in the SFF Admin Panel under the Resources tab.
New SFF system (the system is also accessed in TUPortal under TUapplications: SFF Form Creator and Reports): sff.temple.edu/admin
New link for students to complete their SFFs: sff.temple.edu
Instructional Video: Adding Items to Your SFF
Quick Guide to Add Items to a Course
Complete New SFF Guide for Instructors
List of SFF Bank Items (Last updated: January 2021)
Recommendations for Suggesting New Items for the SFF Item Bank
Reports
The new SFF systems allows for faster delivery of SFF instructor reports; instructor reports are posted as soon as the grading deadline has passed. Instructors access reports via the Reports tab in the new SFF Admin Panel. SFF reports for Summer 2020 and prior can be accessed through the old report system at titan.temple.edu/cateresults/
The reports include percentages and means for each item, comparative data, and open-ended student comments. Data for instructor added items is made available only to instructors.
Instructors use the SFF reports to improve their teaching and course materials. Student feedback also helps instructors and administration make merit, tenure and promotion decisions, as well as other important decisions about how course are taught at Temple.
Download a New Sample Instructor SFF report
Questions?
Contact Gina Calzaferri, Director of Assessment & Evaluation, or email sff@temple.edu