Optics+Lab+Survey

toc =Reflection on Survey = This survey was administered about three quarters through the class. I have asked for informal feedback from students at several points, but this was a more formal survey.

Highlights:
A highlight for me was that students reported that they feel they are learning as much or more in this course as compared to other classes. I think it was good to ask this question, it was the first time I've asked it in this way. I know that students learn a great deal in their other content area classes, and it encourages me that they think they are learning as much or more in my class.

I also like the comments they make as advice to other students. We use this question as a measure of their understanding of the processes of managing lab work in high school. Most students are making the connections between understanding the concepts and doing well. That's great!

Areas of need and Next steps:
Almost all students reported the need for an exemplar. As I mention below, I do struggle with this. I think that I should have given more exemplars for this, their first major lab report. I think we should go through an example of an easy lab in parallel to the one they are doing. Maybe it could relate to their lab to some degree, but not totally. Then I could give it as an example of how I would like things to look and be done without giving them this lab outright. I think this is something I'll bring up with Mike.

As I mention below, some students seem to need more from me in terms of support than I have been giving. In addition to more variation in class activities and procedures, I think I can work to re-focus my attention on students that may not be asking for help and providing structures in the classroom for students to get feedback and help from other people than me.

One class I had this year had a particularly different feel and flow to it over the year. I've been trying to get them to loosen up a bit over the year and interact with each other a bit more. Most recently I think letting this class choose who they work with has been successful. However, it does seem that when I look at the data, this class has a much lower opinion overall of me and the course. I think their comments bring up good points. I also think that the mix of students in this class of 10 has been a significant struggle. The class size really was too small. Mike and I have talked about the need for a "critical mass" in the classroom for Honors Challenge to find the most success. This class has not seen that effect and it has really contributed to all aspects of the class being a little less rich than the other classes.

Another theme that came up from this survey was student thinking my explanations are vague. I do have some insight as to why this comment came up so frequently for this survey. During that class students were asked to do a lab that was a follow up exercise to the Optics Lab. I was purposefully vague to see how far they had come with their learning and practical scientific understanding. I tried to give them the sense that this was an assessment of sorts, but these students in particular are looking for reassurance that they have the "right" answers. Pushing them on this causes them to be uncomfortable and is intentional on my part. And, in that sense this could be some positive feedback because they are sensing that. It also may be true that I can continue to work on my explanations.

Summary with specific reflections
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Data
I've highlighted a few comments of particular interest in this spreadsheet. media type="custom" key="3523968"