Table 4 Illustrative quotes with associated concerns and barriers to open-forum online feedback

Concerns and barriers with open-forum online feedback

Group consensus deterring students from offering personal or differing opinions

aM3: I guess if you see someone put something down that you were going to put but the opposite, it does put you off a bit, … knowing it is anonymous might make you feel better if you still feel comfortable you can put it down

Student – teacher relationship reducing critical feedback

CTF1: they want to maintain anonymity … they feel bad [because] we build personal rapport with the students … feel bad giving really critical feedback to someone or on a session if it was in the public domain

Critical feedback visible to colleagues and faculty

CTF3: I’m thinking if someone gave me really bad feedback in an open way … all the students would see, all the teachers would see it, I feel I need to defend my position … that’s something I worry about.

Critical feedback visible to other students

CTF1: I wonder if the public domain does make the person less likely to be critical … maybe having that hidden element … might be something to encourage people to give … critical feedback

bM1: there should be an option to make it closed you should be able to put a tick … whether you want it to be seen to the public or not

Larger emotional impact if critical feedback in a public forum

CTF1: I can think of people … who may not respond as openly and constructively with public criticism. This is why I think it is very much dependent on the personality of the teacher.

CTF2: If someone gives you negative feedback for a real reason, there will always be an emotional element … that emotional element could be amplified by it [being] accessible compared to just privately to you… that risk is being weighed up against the overall benefits of the transparency of the system

Access to the platform

SQ12: An app would be more easy to use and access and would not require repeated logins … an app would encourage use

bF2: The most important thing for any feedback for it to be easy to access so instead of typing it having app or ready link.

CTF2: A brief customised app … might be easier because everyone’s got an iPad at Imperial, or just make it compulsory in the first session to [load it] onto your home screen for a one touch solution to give feedback.