As we are about to embark on our long-awaited 10-week Extended Practicum, I have been looking back at the feedback I have received thus far over the program. Some positive, some constructive… but I find that despite having it on paper, it’s hard to really know how exactly your doing. That’s why, during my Term 1 practicum, I found it really useful to actually ask the students. Yes, imagine asking the student! I thought it seemed like a pretty logical way to get feedback, although according to my SA, it is not something that happens frequently enough with teachers…
This could easily have been a recipe for disaster, but I found that because I had built up a good rapport with my students, I was able to stress that I wanted them to be really honest, and trusted them enough to know that I would get specific, helpful feedback that would not hurt my feelings (although a thick skin does help!).
And the students were great! They were asked to state one thing I did well, one thing I could improve on, and one further piece of advice they wanted to give me. When students asked if they could get multiple post-its, I stated they could only write more than one for the last two columns. I won’t provide the details, but it really does give you insight into what the students values and how they really see you. Which I believe is one of the most important aspects of the teacher role – that student-teacher relationship.
In my new practicum class, I have already asked my students what they want in a teacher – someone who takes the time to explain things individually, provides additional time for support, encourages them to do more PE, is able to be firm but fair, makes things fun, and gives no homework (of course!). And I will definitely be checking in with my students at least once throughout my practicum to get their feedback on how i’m doing, as a way to reflect on my practice and maintain a student-centered environment.
