We are disappointed…

I got negative feedback from a parent.  I ran across it unexpectedly.  The sheet with learner and parent feedback was sitting in a pile of papers and it caught my eye as I was digging around looking for something else.

“We, as parents were disappointed…”

My heart sank and my stomach clinched up.  Why am I so sensitive to one little piece of criticism?  I have been delighted over and over this year by the positive comments about me, my classes and my teaching.  Yet that one little comment rings so much louder in my ears.

I want to accept it with calm, and appreciation.  I want to let it inform how I refine my classes in the future without having to doubt my entire self-concept as a teacher.

The comment was about the structure, or rather, the lack of structure in my Puzzles & Mindbenders class.  There were no “learning objectives”, it said.

My thoughts react with defensive retaliation.  People don’t learn because of learning objectives!  People learn because they are interested and focused, because they are engaged with something that challenges them.  It builds confidence and new ways of thinking.  And different learners need different learning objectives!  Even if I had the time to formalize objectives for each learner, would that really enhance my ability to guide them significantly?   Aren’t learning objectives simply a way to make it appear that learning is happening, regardless of whether it actually is?  Aren’t we in a non-traditional setting precisely so we can avoid this kind of song and dance and focus on what really matters?

But, it may be that my classes can use more structure.  Maybe homeschoolers don’t need a class to have plenty of opportunity to work on puzzles they choose.

Actually, though, I think of the value of a class like my puzzles class as similar to the value of a practice group for swimming or running.  Sometimes there is focused learning around technique.  But most of the value comes from building up your muscles and developing muscle memory.  It is much easier to work hard and practice regularly if you have a practice group.

Puzzles and Mindbenders is exercise for your brain.  It gives learners a chance to work hard at puzzles that are the right level for them.  They are building up the circuits in their brains that allow them to think logically, creatively and carefully.  They are learning persistence and gaining confidence.  Perhaps I can communicate this objective more clearly in the course description next year.

Just a note at the end here – if by some chance the parent who authored the comment happens to be reading – this kind of feedback is essential and welcome.  Please keep it coming!

297 thoughts on “We are disappointed…

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    I have mostly recovered from the emotions around this. I still have little pangs of…. shame, I guess?… when I think about planning for next year’s puzzle class.

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