Common Core Question Set
The CES includes a Common Core question set that all students answer across the university. These questions were developed at SFU through extensive research with students about how they articulate and experience learning in their courses. Rather than asking students to judge “good teaching,” the questions focus on students' learning experiences in the course and their interaction with the instructor’s teaching approach. Further information on the research and methodology behind these questions is available on the LEAP website.
Workload
1) This question is about course workload.
SFU expects a student to spend 2-3 hours each week (both in class time and out of class work) per course credit.1 For example, if Physiology 101 is a 3-credit course, it would take 6-9 hours (on average) of a student's time each week.
1SFU recognizes that courses with a significant experiential learning component (e.g., lab) may require additional time.
I spent ____ time on [course name] than expected based on its number of credits.
- Less (-1)
- The same amount of (0)
- More (+1)
Question branching
1a) You responded as having spent less time on [course name] than expected. Please explain your response.
1b) You responded as having spent the same amount of time on [course name] as expected. Please explain your response.
1c) You responded as having spent more time on [course name] than expected. Please explain your response.
Challenge
2) I found this course to be...
- Not challenging (-1)
- The right level of challenge for me (0)
- Too challenging (+1)
Question branching
2a) Why did you rate [course name] as not challenging?
- I had already learned the course concepts in a different course.
- It was easy for me to do well on the assessments (i.e., assignments, tests, essays).
- I found the course concepts to be clear and straightforward.
- I thought that the course concepts were taught too slowly or repetitively.
- I am very interested in this topic.
- Other: _________________
2b) Why did you rate [course name] as too challenging?
- The course concepts were too difficult/abstract for me.
- I did not understand the connections between course concepts.
- I found the course readings difficult to understand.
- I think the course concepts were taught too fast for me.
- I did not have the prerequisite knowledge.
- The course assessments (i.e., assignments, tests, essays) were difficult for me.
- My classmates made it difficult for me to learn (i.e., group work, discussions).
- Other: _________________
Approachability
3) How comfortable did you feel approaching your instructor (in person or online)?
- Not at all comfortable (1)
- Somewhat comfortable (2)
- Completely comfortable (3)
- I did not contact the instructor, but the reason had nothing to do with the instructor's approachability.
Question branching
3a) You responded as having felt not at all comfortable approaching [instructor name]. Please explain your response.
3b) You responded as having felt somewhat comfortable approaching [instructor name]. Please explain your response.
3c) You responded as having felt completely comfortable approaching [instructor name]. Please explain your response.
3d) You responded that you did not approach [instructor name], but the reason had nothing to do with their approachability. Please explain your response.
Clarity
4) How often did you understand [instructor name]'s explanations of course concepts?
- Almost never (1)
- Rarely (2)
- Sometimes (3)
- Often (4)
- Almost always (5)
Supportiveness
5) I think [instructor name] _____ tried to support student learning (i.e., used a variety of learning activities, invested in my success, invited and responded to student feedback).
- Almost never (1)
- Rarely (2)
- Sometimes (3)
- Often (4)
- Almost always (5)
Engagement
6) I _____ felt engaged by [instructor's name]'s teaching approach (i.e., activities, lectures, discussions).
- Almost never (1)
- Rarely (2)
- Sometimes (3)
- Often (4)
- Almost always (5)
Grading
7) Was it clear to you how your work (i.e., assignments, essays, tests, learning activities) would be graded?
- Not at all (1)
- A little (2)
- Somewhat (3)
- Mostly (4)
- Very much (5)
Assessments
8) Did the assessments reflect what you were taught (i.e., learning activities, concepts, materials)?
- Not at all (1)
- A little (2)
- Somewhat (3)
- Mostly (4)
- Very much (5)
Learning
9) Which aspects of the course helped you learn and why?
Improvement
10) How would you improve [course name] for future students?