Anonymous feedback for a class, club or team

People tell you more when their name isn't attached. That makes an anonymous link a simple tool for anyone running a group: a course representative, a tutor, a society president, a team captain or an event organiser. Here's how to use one for honest feedback.

Setting it up

In Settings, under Link, turn on the Campus / class mode. Visitors see the prompt "Questions and feedback for the class". If the link is only for this group, switch the other modes off so nobody's confused.

Then share it where the group already is: the class group chat, the society's channel, a slide at the end of a session, or a QR code on a poster.

Questions that get useful answers

Open questions get the most honest feedback. Ask one at a time, and be specific:

• "What's one thing that would make our sessions more useful?"
• "Which topic from this term still doesn't make sense?"
• "What should we stop doing?"
• "What's one thing you'd keep exactly as it is?"
• "Is the pace too fast, too slow, or about right? Why?"
• "What stopped you coming to the last meeting?"
• "What event would you actually turn up to?"
• "Is there anything going on in the group that leaders should know about?"

For a quick vote, use a poll instead: two to four options, one vote each, and nobody can see who voted for what. See Drops and polls.

Collecting questions before a session

An anonymous link is also good for questions people are too shy to ask out loud. Before a revision session, Q&A or meeting:

1. Run a Drop with a prompt like "What do you want covered on Thursday?"
2. Read what comes in and group similar questions.
3. Answer them in the session. Nobody has to admit they were the one who didn't understand.

Acting on feedback

Feedback only works if people see it used.

• Say what you heard. "A lot of you said the sessions run too long" shows people you read it.
• Say what you'll change, and what you can't, with reasons.
• Follow up. A month later, ask whether it's better.

You can reply to individual messages too. If someone raises something specific, a private reply asking for more detail often gets a fuller answer, and they stay anonymous the whole way.

Keeping it constructive

Anonymous feedback is honest, and occasionally harsh. A few things help:

• Set expectations when you share the link: "Be honest, be specific, be kind."
• Don't take it personally. Look for patterns, not single comments.
• Remove what isn't feedback. Delete abusive messages and block the sender. With Plus you can block words, and messages containing them go to a Filtered folder.
• Never try to identify who said what. The whole point is that people can be honest safely. If something serious comes up, like a safety concern, report the conversation rather than investigating it yourself.

DropAsecret is for people aged 18 and over, so it suits university groups, workplaces and adult clubs, not school classes with younger students.