The end of the semester brings a unique mix of relief and exhaustion. Grades are wrapping up, inboxes are full, and your to-do list somehow keeps growing. But before you close the door on this term, there’s one small ritual that can make next semester so much smoother: A quick end-of-term course audit. Think of it like sitting down to review game film at the end of a season, taking time to celebrate the highlights, reviewing what happened, and identifying the adjustments that will make next time even stronger. You don’t need hours to do this. A focused checklist and a little intention can set you up for an easier, more streamlined course down the road.
With the season wrapped up, it’s time to review the film. Use the checklist below to take a focused, end-of-term look at how your course performed and where small adjustments could make a big impact.
1. Review student performance and analytics.
Start by looking at how students engaged with your course and ask:
- Where did students consistently do well?
- Were there assignments or modules where grades dipped?
- Did engagement drop at certain points in the semester?
Analytics are like your game stats. They help you identify patterns, uncover strengths, and spotlight areas where additional support may be needed.
To learn more about eCampus student performance analytics, check out CAHS Technical Tips & Tutorials: Performance Tracking Tools.
2. Reflect on student evaluations and feedback.
Student evaluations and feedback helps you see the course from the student perspective and gives you concrete insights to inform improvements. Instead of getting caught up in a single comment, look for patterns:
- What did multiple students appreciate?
- What did they find confusing, repetitive, or overwhelming?
- Were there assignments or activities that didn’t land as expected?
This view helps you understand how students experienced your course, and what you might adjust moving forward.
3. Evaluate your course with a student-centered lens.
Now’s the time to walk through your course as if you were a student. Take some time to ask the following questions are you review your online course in student preview:
- Is the navigation intuitive and consistent?
- Are instructions clear and easy to follow?
- Does the course feel manageable week to week?
- Are visuals, media, and text accessible and digestible?
Just like watching game film, this review helps you spot where students might have been “offsides” or missed the play, giving you a chance to improve the user experience next season.
To learn more about eCampus student preview, check out CAHS Technical Tips & Tutorials: Student Preview. To learn more about how to make your digital materials accessible, check out WVU Digital Accessibility.
4. Identify areas for improvement.
As you review analytics and feedback, start highlighting places that could be refreshed and improved for next time. Take notes on the following areas:
- Any outdated or unclear content
- Assignments that didn’t produce the desired outcomes
- Modules that could benefit from reordering or scaffolding
- Opportunities to add examples, visuals, or additional resources
Document these notes as a roadmap for the next course offering. It’s much easier than trying to remember everything months later. Your future self will thank you.
5. Update resources and replace outdated links.
Check your materials for broken links, outdated videos, inaccessible documents such as many PDFs, or tools that have changed. Updating now prevents scrambling later and ensures the next iteration of your course is polished and ready for students. As you review, consider:
- Links to external websites, articles, or videos that may have changed or expired
- Embedded media that no longer loads, is outdated, or not properly captioned and/or transcribed
- nstructions or screenshots that reference old tools or course layouts
- Required technologies, formats, or resources that students struggled to access
For example, PDFs are rarely accessible by default and often require significant remediation. Consider using more accessible formats, such as Google Docs or Word documents, to better support all learners. To learn more about PDFs and accessibility, check out WVU Digital Accessibility: PDFs.
6. Write a short reflection.
This reflection is like a coach’s notes in a playbook. It will be invaluable when you return to tweak, improve, and build your next semester. Take a few minutes to jot down:
- What you’re proud of.
- What surprised you.
- What you’d like to do differently next time.
Even a short paragraph can help you re-enter the course later with clarity and direction.
7. Celebrate your wins.
Take a moment to celebrate the victories, big or small. Recognizing what worked is just as important as identifying what to change. Reflect on:
-
Assignments or activities where students demonstrated strong learning or engagement
-
Discussions that generated meaningful interaction or insight
-
Course elements you improved or tried for the first time this semester
-
Positive feedback or moments of student growth that stood out
This reflection not only reinforces effective practices but also reminds you why this work matters.
Closing Thoughts
An end-of-term course audit doesn’t have to be long or stressful. By reviewing your “game film,” reflecting on student experience, and noting areas for improvement, you’re setting yourself up for a smoother, more intentional course next semester. A little time spent now can save hours later, and help you enter the next term ready to coach your students to success.
Want a version of this process that you can edit? Download the End-of-Term Course Audit Checklist to guide your review and capture notes you can revisit next semester.