Finishing an Academic Term

This week many of us (on semester schedules) can see the end of yet another term in sight in a couple of weeks. Therefore, I would like to share recent research on ideas to finish the academic term effectively. The first idea is from a paper entitled, “End-of-the-year reflection: Tools for validation, celebration, gratitude and planning ahead” by Hardy (2021). In this paper, the author suggests the following prompts to share with students.

Reflection for Increasing Success

What are you better at now than you were at the beginning of the term?
Name all of the ways that these improvements were made possible.
What are you most proud of from the past term? Why does this make you proud?
What tools, supports or resources aided your success?

Other ideas are shared in the article/website entitled “How to End a Course: Teaching Tips by Eric Fournier from Washington University in St. Louis. The author suggests that we reflect in an effort to end classes in an effective way.

Give students an opportunity to reflect on their learning by asking them to summarize key points or what concepts they will be able to use in five years. Form groups and ask to compare responses and build a collaborative list (maybe share with your next class).
Provide a synthesis of the course materials and align with a few big picture themes.
Organize a “Gallery Walk” where students circulate the room and respond to questions about the course.
Ask students to write a letter to future students.

Loleen Berdahl, PhD, Executive Director at University of Saskatchewan wrote a paper entitled, “How to end the semester on a high note (or at least a neutral one)”. The approach includes asking students to provide brief answers to the following questions.

Description: In neutral language, describe the semester. (what were your work and personal responsibilities; what projects did you work on, etc.).
Feelings: At what points were you calm, overwhelmed, hopeful, discouraged, content, frustrated? Now, what are your dominant emotions about the overall semester?
Evaluation: What went well for you during the semester? What were the most challenging things for you during the semester?
Analysis: In what ways did your actions contribute to things that went well or not?
Conclusions: What would you do the same if you were to start the semester again?
Action Plan: What skills (e.g., organizational, time management) did you strengthen?

Finally, from Faculty Focus, Shadiow and Weimer (2015) wrote, “A New Twist on End-of-Semester Evaluations.” In this, they offer the following prompts for students. In this course …