http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Sat, 25 May 2013 10:46:27 PDT Sat, 25 May 2013 10:46:27 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=491802 Ed discusses his experience with early semester evaluation of his course using student focus groups. The groups are formed and directed by professional assessment staff but are free to discuss any aspect of the course. Ed met with the assessment team to broadly define his needs and the type of feedback he was looking for but did not directly participate in the data gathering. The focus groups enabled Ed to get small group discussion and feedback in a large class setting. The classroom data collection was followed up with a one-on-one debriefing between the Ed and the assessment specialist where the analysis and report on the data were discussed. Potential strategies and changes were discussed but it was up to Ed what changes he made in the course. As a result of the review Ed was able to make minor changes in the course that eliminated some major frustrations for the students.Stony Brook University TLT website: https://tlt.stonybrook.edu/FacultyServices/IiE/Lists/Show%20List/DispForm.aspx?ID=24&Source=https%3A%2F%2Ftlt.stonybrook.edu%2FFacultyServices%2FIiE%2FLists%2FShow%2520List%2FSelect%2520Show.aspx