December 2022:
Your meeting, learning session or group process is winding down and you are committed to eliciting feedback from participants. You are interested in hearing about their experience and what impact the conversation might have had on them.
There are many evaluation methods to pick from as you design your process. But how do you choose? Which method will best serve your purpose?
Here is an easy activity to add to your menu of options. We have used it successfully for many years! It was designed by Gerard Murphy, our Founder and CEO, and it takes about 5-10 minutes to facilitate.
Your meeting, learning session or group process is winding down and you are committed to eliciting feedback from participants. You are interested in hearing about their experience and what impact the conversation might have had on them.
There are many evaluation methods to pick from as you design your process. But how do you choose? Which method will best serve your purpose?
Here is an easy activity to add to your menu of options. We have used it successfully for many years! It was designed by Gerard Murphy, our Founder and CEO, and it takes about 5-10 minutes to facilitate.
Description:
1. Provide each participant with one index card and a pen. OR for additional writing space, use sheets of 8 ½ x 11 paper.
2. Invite participants to divide their index cards/paper into four equal sized quadrants by drawing one horizontal and one vertical line through the centre of their cards/paper.
1. Provide each participant with one index card and a pen. OR for additional writing space, use sheets of 8 ½ x 11 paper.
2. Invite participants to divide their index cards/paper into four equal sized quadrants by drawing one horizontal and one vertical line through the centre of their cards/paper.
3. Use a piece of flip chart paper on an easel to draw the above and to demonstrate the set up for the quadrants you are describing.
4. Reinforce that all feedback shall be anonymous and names are not required.
5. Systematically introduce the three-letter labels for each quadrant, as follows:
a. Introduce and print the first three-letter label in the top left quadrant and ask participants to do the same on their index cards/paper.
b. Explain what the label means and invite participants to silently print their comments. Remind participants to print legibly.
c. Allow a few minutes for everyone to reflect and to make a few notes.
d. Move to the top right quadrant and introduce the second three-letter label. Continue to the bottom-left and then to the bottom-right quadrants, until completed.
e. Suggest that if participants have no comments for any one quadrant that they may insert a large “X” in that specific box.
6. Alternatively, download a copy of our ready-made tool here, for ease of use. And drop us a comment on social media to let us know about your experience using this method with your team.
4. Reinforce that all feedback shall be anonymous and names are not required.
5. Systematically introduce the three-letter labels for each quadrant, as follows:
a. Introduce and print the first three-letter label in the top left quadrant and ask participants to do the same on their index cards/paper.
b. Explain what the label means and invite participants to silently print their comments. Remind participants to print legibly.
c. Allow a few minutes for everyone to reflect and to make a few notes.
d. Move to the top right quadrant and introduce the second three-letter label. Continue to the bottom-left and then to the bottom-right quadrants, until completed.
e. Suggest that if participants have no comments for any one quadrant that they may insert a large “X” in that specific box.
6. Alternatively, download a copy of our ready-made tool here, for ease of use. And drop us a comment on social media to let us know about your experience using this method with your team.
Here are the four (4), three-letter labels and their descriptions:
- WWW = What worked well? (something/things that helped me to have a positive and productive experience was/were _________________) opportunity for positive feedback
- BBI = Been better if… (this meeting/session would have been better if _______________) opportunity for constructive feedback
- AHA = My one top Aha moment… (I’m leaving this meeting/session thinking about/ready to act on _____________________)
- HEY = Hey Facilitator… (something else I want/need to tell you is ________________)