The Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey is designed to provide a level of insight into our learning and teaching offerings from a student perspective. The survey is run by the ANU Institutional Research team and provided to students towards the end of each teaching session.
Valuable insights
Data from the survey is used to assist in course development, academic development and to measure student satisfaction. SELT can provide teaching staff with valuable insights into the student experience of both their teaching and the design and contents of a course, to better understand what is working well and where there are opportunities for improvement.
Feedback on classes and teaching
The SELT survey has two major components:
Feedback is collected and aggregated at the class level, with a primary focus on quality assurance and course improvement. This data is intended to help Course Conveners, Colleges and the University to monitor and identify improvements in the quality of support for students’ learning.
Feedback relating to individual academic staff’s teaching is collected, with a primary focus on quality enhancement and improvement to practice. This aspect of the survey is intended to assist staff in their own professional development as teachers.
Why ANU conducts the SELT survey
Recognising the value of the student experience is vital to the success of any learning institution. Student feedback about their courses and their teachers are an integral part of achieving one of the university’s primary objectives: that our student experience will be equal to the best in the world.
SELT also ensures that informed support is available to students regarding decisions they make during enrolment.
For educators, SELT is an important quality control measure that supports teachers in improving both their course delivery and professional learning.
Supporting the learning and teaching community
SELT supports the ANU learning and teaching community on multiple fronts:
Student feedback collected from the SELT survey allows faculty to identify areas where courses may need refinement, ensuring that curriculum design and course content align with student needs and industry demands. This ensures that the university maintains high-quality academic offerings that are both relevant and effective.
SELT provides valuable insights into how students perceive their learning environment, ensuring their concerns and suggestions are heard. This fosters a campus culture where students feel valued and actively engaged in their academic experience.
SELT equips teachers with critical information that can guide research and pedagogical innovation, fostering a scholarly approach to reflective teaching. This evidence-based approach helps to advance teaching excellence across the institution.
The feedback gained from SELT helps to identify areas where staff can enhance their skills. This allows professional development initiatives to address specific needs of educators and ensure ongoing growth in teaching practice.
SELT offers actionable insights into how well current learning resources and student support services meet learner needs. This enables colleges to make adjustments that enhance overall student success and satisfaction.
SELT surveys are mandatory to run for all eligible classes, and voluntary for students to complete. Teachers are encouraged to request that students respond to the SELT survey.
Why we encourage participation in SELT
Feedback is the engine of learning – in the same way that students are reliant upon feedback to develop their skills and understanding.
We as teachers equally need feedback from students to ensure that:
- what we are doing works for all types of learners, and
- to understand what is working for, and appreciated by, students.
Naturally teaching staff already receive feedback from students directly, however SELT gives an opportunity for:
- students to provide honest feedback anonymously
- ANU to identify and address issues at a course or system level.
Student trust and collaboration
When we encourage students to participate in the surveys, we show that their voice is important and that we value their experience in the classroom. It helps promote a culture of transparency and encourages honest reflection about the learning and teaching experience.
By listening to, valuing and integrating student feedback in the development and the quality improvement of learning and teaching at ANU we can create an environment of collaboration and trust, enabling students to be active participants in refining and improving the learning experience we provide.