The following information is published with ROUNDALAB's permission from the ROUNDALAB Reference Manual compiled by Richard & Jo Ann Lawson, 1987.

Feedback Questionnaire

by Joyce Hooper

Each year, about two-thirds of the way through completing the round dance basics class, I hand out the Feedback Questionnaire. Each person is asked to complete the questionnaire (even, and/or especially, my Angels) - and they are asked not to sign their name. The only identification I ask for is to place the day of their class and note whether they are a student or an Angel.

At the beginning, the questionnaires were returned with MANY suggestions for improvement. And, I can honestly say, that approximately 95% of the comments given to me were incorporated in the next set of classes - and made those classes even better! Thank God for our students who continue to teach us, too.

Now - most of the time, the questionnaires are returned with mostly complimentary comments... which tells me that, at least my students feel, I'm heading in the right direction as far as attitudes, teaching and methodology are concerned. But, at the same time, the compliments frustrate me a little for I know that in order to improve we need the constructive criticism... and I ain't perfect!

Below is the Feedback Questionnaire for your perusal and hopefully use in your classes, too. Not once has a student completed the questionnaire with the idea of totally running me or my methods down. I find that the student is very concerned and if he is happy with you, he is also happy to help with his suggestions for improvement.

Give it a try...


Feedback Questionnaire

The feedback questionnaire was prepared as a means to improve the abilities of the round dance instructors and cuer by obtaining student opinion of the teaching techniques used in the round dance basics class. Our goal is to be able to give you, the new round dancer, an effective and enjoyable session of lessons covering the basics of round dancing.

Please answer the questions as fairly and objectively as possible. Draw a circle around the letter that most accurately describes your opinion, or, add your own answers. We appreciate your taking the time to give us your ideas and opinions. This will be used to help us in developing the next round dance basics class!


Teaching

General format of the class: approximately 25-minute sessions with a 5-minute break.

  1. very productive use of lesson time
  2. good use of lesson time
  3. fair use of lesson time
  4. impossible to deal with
  5. ______________________________

How CLEAR has the Instructor made the teach?

  1. very clear most of the time
  2. good
  3. tended to be confusing most of the time
  4. were never made clear
  5. ______________________________

Teaching of the basic steps (or dances)

  1. goes too fast
  2. goes too slow
  3. too many details
  4. not enough details
  5. ______________________________

Cue words and terminology

  1. too much
  2. not enough
  3. ______________________________

Timing on the cue words

  1. too soon to be helpful
  2. right when it should be cued to be helpful
  3. too late to be helpful
  4. never on time
  5. ______________________________

How well ORGANIZED are the class presentations?

  1. extremely well
  2. very well
  3. fairly well
  4. poorly
  5. not at all

How would you rate the value of the READING MATERIAL made available? (Lockerman's R/D Manual R5.75)

  1. excellent
  2. good
  3. fair
  4. poor
  5. reading material not used

How would you rate the value of the READING MATERIAL made available? (Instructor's Handouts)

  1. excellent
  2. good
  3. fair
  4. poor
  5. reading material not used

The Instructor's ATTITUDE toward teaching the basics class seems:

  1. deeply interested and enthusiastic
  2. generally interested
  3. routinely interested
  4. generally uninterested
  5. totally indifferent

Considering the size of the class, do you feel that the Instructors are willing to give personal help in this class?

  1. I always feel welcome to seek personal help as often as I need it
  2. I feel free to seek personal help
  3. I feel that personal help would be given if I asked
  4. I feel hesitant to seek personal help
  5. I feel that Instructors would be unsympathetic and uninterested in my problem

How has the teaching in these lessons helped you in terms of acquiring the knowledge, skills and ability you were wanting?

  1. excellent
  2. very good
  3. moderate
  4. not very good
  5. not at all

How would you rate the teaching EFFECTIVENESS of this Instructor?

  1. one of the most effective Instructors I have ever had (top 10%)
  2. better than most Instructors (among the top 30% but not in the top 10%)
  3. about average (among the top 60% but not in the top 30%)
  4. not as good as most (below the top 60% but not in the lower 10%)
  5. one of the poorest (in the lower 10%)

Would you RECOMMEND this round dance Basics Class from this Instructor to a good friend who is serious about learning to round dance?

  1. I would recommend it highly
  2. I would recommend it as being better than most
  3. I am undecided
  4. I probably would not recommend it
  5. I definitely would not recommend it

At this stage of learning, how do you feel about round dancing?
______________________________

Comments: ______________________________

This Feedback Questionnaire is to be completed anonymously.

Roundalab Journal, November, 1983