Our Services
GIFTS (Group Instructional Feedback Technique)
Ever wondered whether your course materials, assignments, or class structure are really working for your students? A "GIFT" might help you answer those questions! GIFTs are low-stakes, mid-semester check-ins between your students and a CTL staff member.
Ever wondered whether your course materials, assignments, or class structure are really working for your students? A "GIFT" might help you answer those questions! GIFTs are low-stakes, anonymous, mid-semester check-ins facilitated by a CTL staff member with your students designed to help you make mid-course adjustments, improve communication with your students, increase student engagement, and build a healthy culture of reciprocal feedback.
GIFTs can help faculty who are...
- Trying something new and wondering whether it is working.
- Struggling with a particularly quiet or unengaged group of students.
- Hoping to gather evidence on their successful teaching strategies.
- Instructors new to the university or to teaching in general.
- Experienced instructors who are worried their classes are getting stale and who are looking for student suggestions on how to improve.
- Instructors who just like to touch base with their students and get feedback.
GIFTs are totally confidential and only offered at the instructor's request. They are performed by the Senior Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning around midterm, and they consist of three parts:
- Initial meeting/Request:
- Once the GIFT is requested, the faculty member works with a CTL staff member to review the GIFT process, schedule the class visit, and discuss any concerns about the course.
- GIFT Offering:
- The GIFT moderator shows up to class on the selected day and meets with students (alone) for approximately 30 minutes. During that time, the moderator puts the students into groups and asks them four questions:
- What about this course helps you learn the material for the subject matter?
- What about this course does NOT help you learn the material for the subject matter?
- What could YOU (students) do to improve your own learning?
- What suggestions do you have for future versions of this course?
- The GIFT moderator shows up to class on the selected day and meets with students (alone) for approximately 30 minutes. During that time, the moderator puts the students into groups and asks them four questions:
- GIFT Consensus:
- After the student groups answer the questions, the moderator leads a whole class discussion where the groups share their answers to the questions, and the class comes to a consensus on their advice to the instructor.
- Instructor Feedback:
- After the GIFT is complete, the moderator writes a report sharing the student feedback, and shares that report with the instructor.
All GIFT reports are completely confidential. Instructors can choose to keep it confidential or share the report as part of their annual review materials as a means of demonstrating successful teaching. The instructor is encouraged to discuss the feedback with their students.
OSCQR Online Course Evaluations
Have your online course reviewed by an OSCQR-certified CTL staff member. Formal evaluations and quality design support are available through the Design Lab and CTL — reach out by email, walk in during Design Lab hours, or schedule a consultation.
OSCQR (Open SUNY Course Quality Review) evaluations give faculty structured, expert feedback on their online courses using a rubric developed specifically for SUNY. Reviews are conducted jointly by Design Help and the CTL, and are available at no cost to SUNY faculty and staff.
About OSCQR
OSCQR.SUNY.EDU is a free, openly licensed companion resource to the OSCQR rubric, offering expanded explanations, examples, and citations for each standard. It can be used as a stand-alone reference or alongside a formal review.
Professional development and certification
Faculty and staff interested in going further can pursue OSCQR certification through SUNY Online, including:
- Self-Assessment Refresh — for reviewing and refreshing your own online course
- Certified Reviewer — for reviewing courses beyond your own
- Certified Trainer — for training others to use OSCQR tools
- Program Certification — for campuses building a sustainable, OSCQR-aligned quality assurance process
Certification generally involves completing an introductory OSCQR workshop, conducting a full course review and refresh, and submitting your completed rubric along with a reflection on the process.
For questions about certification or to request an OSCQR consultation, contact the SUNY Online OSCQR program coordinator.
Design Lab Drop-In Hours
Stop by for quick, no-appointment-needed help — troubleshoot instructional technology, get feedback on a new assignment idea, or explore our AI Tinkerspace to experiment with building AI tools for your course.
One-on-One Consultations
Meet with a CTL designer or teaching mentor about anything related to your teaching. We can help you design a new course or redesign an existing one, build assessment plans and engaging activities, incorporate high-impact practices, improve accessibility, or work through a tough classroom issue.
Request a Workshop
Bring your department or program together for a custom workshop on course design, instructional technology, or any teaching topic your group wants to explore. All we ask is five or more colleagues ready to join in.
Want to try something new in your department, but not sure where to start? The CTL can build a workshop around your team's specific needs — whether that's exploring instructional technology, tackling a shared teaching challenge, or workshopping assignments with colleagues in your discipline.
We're happy to lead a session on nearly any teaching-related topic, from course design to student engagement strategies. The only requirement is a group of at least five colleagues committed to attending. Give us some advance notice, and we'll work with you to plan a workshop that fits your goals and schedule.
