Questionnaires - Good or Bad?

The children at Fuse High school just completed their first semester exams and so as is the custom there the teachers have to give the children questionnaire to asses the classes and of course themselves. Now questionnaires are kinda tricky. Although out of sheer curiosity you want to see what these children thinking on the other hand you kinda fraid because their answers may just reveal that they really not enjoying your class or that they think you are an absolutely dreadful teacher. (A teacher’s nightmare- if you care)

I remember distinctly at UWI students relishing the moments when they got the questionnaire to tear a part the teacher who they just didn’t like. Imagine their disappointment when they realized that in spite of innumerable negative responses on the questionnaires it was not sufficient to get the lecturer fired, and worse, that they had to endure them for another course that was mandatory for their degree. Any way I had to make up this questionnaire whatever the results would be I would just have to deal with it.

So today I was reviewing the results . A few students said that the didn’t understand most of what I said (Not good) Others said the class was a bit difficult but generally most of the students seem to be doing just fine. At the end of the questionnaire I left a space for them to write general comments and quite a few the children wrote things like “I love Maria “I enjoy class every week” and “Thank you Maria.” I really was delighted and encouraged just to make the classes even better.

So you see questionnaires aren’t always bad after all.