Negative and neutral feedback may take a number of forms in the classroom. Some classes, particularly universities, language classes and other educational institutes for adults, often have formal evaluations that students fill out. On these sheets, students can write and sometimes rate their teachers in several different categories. However, negative feedback is often less formal and far more immediate. You may notice your students nodding off in class, talking to each other or acting in an antagonistic manner. While this behavior can occur for a number of reasons, it may be a sign that your students do not approve of the class. Similarly, websites such as Ratemyteachers.com and Ratemyprofessor.com, allow students to assign number values and write short, sometimes unflattering, messages about their instructors. Although this takes place outside the classroom, it can have a very real impact.
Understanding why students are not connecting with you or your class is tricky. Sometimes, negative or neutral feedback is grounded in fear or anger. Students may be afraid of the difficulty of your class or angry at a bad grade. In such cases, you may have no choice but to move on and accept the feedback. In other cases students may be trying to change an aspect of the class they do not like. Try to pay attention to the nature of the feedback, if it takes the form of an angry rant, it may have very little to do with you. If it is calm and composed, you should try to hear them out.
Many people have difficulty accepting any form of criticism and dismiss it outright. This may be acceptable if you're truly not at fault, but consider the feedback carefully. If it seems reasonable, consider altering your class to make the students happier and more engaged in what they are learning. If they are fuming, ask them for practical suggestions on how to improve the class. However, you should be careful not to alter your class too much. If the students with complaints are in the minority, you risk alienating the students who do like your class by changing too much. If nothing else works, the only solution may be for the student to attend a different class.
Unfortunately, receiving negative feedback can have severe consequences depending on your institution. Some universities and colleges will warn, and in some cases fire, instructors who have consistently poor feedback. In other cases the consequences may be less drastic, but still problematic. If ignored, it can spread and cause a negative atmosphere in the entire classroom, affecting you and your students.