Reflecting on the practicalities of collecting data through online forms, I found that I needed to prompt students in person, as well as email, to fill in the forms. This included bumping in to them in the canteen, and also planned reminders at the end of group meetings to which I was kindly invited to speak by Daniel Poulsen. I ensured that I was very relaxed, and approachable as it was a voluntary task, and the students were being very kind in helping me. Each time I emphasised that it is an extra curricular activity, it is not part of coursework in any way, will not be marked and is entirely voluntary.
The students had submission deadlines at the end of term, so were distracted but I hoped that they might also fill in the form in the winter holiday.
The students who are most friendly and engaged were the ones who promised to fill in the form, and who probably did even if they did not say specifically, which makes me wonder if it will skew the results towards positive comments. I would prefer if there more comments from students who were perhaps less happy with the sessions so that I had a balanced view, and so had evidence of some things to improve upon.
I also wonder if the students might still feel the need to please me as a tutor – there is always a boundary there, whether the activity is coursework or not, despite my emphasis that the responses will be anonymous. I hoped that they felt they could be totally honest. One student said that they didn’t mind if their contribution was not anonymous; ‘I’m sure you will be able to tell that I wrote it!’. I haven’t looked at the data yet, but that statement was surprising – I don’t want to be able to recognise any student’s comments, I would like the exercise to be as objective as possible.
I decided to email each year group 3 times, the last one on the last day of term. I thought it would be too much to email them during the winter holiday.
As previously mentioned, I focussed on Year 2, as I have done more drawing with them than Years 1 and 3.
I will email them to say thanks at the beginning of the Spring term. Despite it being a voluntary exercise, I will take some biscuits for the students as a tangible token of my gratitude. I have found Bahlsen chocolate biscuits are always well recieved – I quite often supply them in my Friday afternoon sessions!