Quite often, the views and opinions that come in from students through feedback forms, surveys and other activities will need to be processed before they can be presented to University staff. A straightforward way to remember how to optimize the collation of views and opinions from students is the ABCD tool.

• Accurate: Feedback should be specific and reflective of students’ experiences and views, avoiding broad or overly emotive reflections that may reflect a subjective view of a small number of student(s). Maintaining a focus on being as concise and clear as possible, while collecting complete details, will aid in accuracy, thus improving problem-solving!
• Balanced: Focusing only on negative feedback will not be helpful in collaborating and building relationships with staff. Integrating both praise and constructive solutions is a necessary practice that will also improve your outcomes for students.
• Constructive: When presenting issues, it’s important to propose solutions. This will help the collaborative partnership and make your representative work more effective, while improving your own skills in practical problem-solving.
• Diplomatic (and depersonalised): Your work is about improving students’ learning experiences, not about particular staff or your own opinions. Focusing on the students’ experience while remaining solution-focused is more effective, and it will reduce the chance of defensiveness from staff as well.

Use of the ABCD tool is important for efficient, solution-focused collaboration with staff. Maintaining accurate records to then present in a balanced, constructive, and depersonalised way will aid in your effectiveness and minimize your workload by prioritizing the efficiency and conciseness of your collaboration with staff.