I had been stunted by what to do next for my freshman students at the end of winter term. While they performed well, it wasn't as I had hoped for. I immediately took personal responsibility for some of their shortcomings and spent countless sleepless nights wondering what I could have and SHOULD have done differently.
I sought guidance from my mentor- an award winning pre-business instructor of 30 years. He said one thing over and over in our meeting..."Tayah what do they need?"
"They need my honest assessment of what they are doing well and where they have the most area of opportunity for growth"
My most important discovery in this process of giving constructive criticism has been finding a way to structure my feedback in a way that both reassures them of their strengths and help them be receptive of their areas for growth. I captured my talking point notes on paper (see pic to right). I then talked out some sample feedback on a video blog. Finally, I went to live recording on you-tube and then forward the recording to them to replay as little or as often as they liked.
So I have spent the past five days recording blogs that assess what they are doing well in academic performance and leadership development and where they may be blind-sided moving forward and therefore pointing out their largest area of opportunity for growth in the next term. Below is a sample of one of my "deliveries."
They are either going to love these blogs- or hate them.
Because I may not get every evaluation perfectly right and I stumble and say stupid things, I'm allowing myself to be vulnerable as their leader- but they are getting my most raw and pure guidance and thats the best I can think to give.
