The Catalyst UMail tool can be an excellent method for encouraging feedback from your students. With UMail students can make comments about the class via the web. You, or whoever you designate to be the recipient of the messages, will be able to read the messages at your convenience, in the email account you specify. UMail can also be configured to allow students to submit anonymous feedback. Setting up an UMail form is easy—just answer a few online questions and your form will be posted on the Web.

Open lines of communication

Feedback from students can be an important source of information for you in developing your teaching strategy. You can ask students to send you a one-minute response to the day's lecture. What did they find interesting? What portions of the discussion were unclear? You can use this feedback to modify your lecture accordingly. With UMail, you can set up a Web-based form your students can use to send mail to you, the TAs, or both. Not only do you have control over where email is sent, but you can enable students to send anonymous email as well, encouraging open, honest feedback from them.

Organize the flow of class-related email

UMail also helps you organize the flow of email from your students by channeling it to the people you designate (such as TAs). With UMail, you can avoid delays and miscommunication resulting from forwarded or misdirected messages.

Assess appropriateness of this technology

This tool is ideal for one-way class feedback, but not for intraclass discussion. As a class discussion board we recommend that you use Catalyst EPost.

Consider whether anonymity is important

Posting with UMail can be anonymous, allowing students to more freely express their opinions. You can also set up UMail to identify the sender, or let them choose whether to be identified or anonymous, depending on the type of feedback or interaction you desire.

Decide where you want feedback to be sent

Postings can be sent to any designated email addresses. However, you should let your students know who exactly will be reading their responses.

Consider the method of access to your UMail form

Although having a class Web page is not necessary to use UMail, it can be a useful starting point to direct students to your class tools. The URLs of the UMail forms can be long and complicated to transmit and retype. By creating a Web site with a link to the feedback form, you can ensure that your students will more easily find it.

Allow time to implement this technology

Initial setup time of UMail is not extensive, and should take less than a half hour.