I hate surveys

I know we are not supposed to say we hate surveys. Hate is kind of a strong word, I understand they are important and we can get great data from them. Yet most of the time I feel we are not using surveys correctly on many a college campus.

Most survey's cannot tell us if it was really our program, system or conversation that made the difference.  We can assume, infer, synthesize all we want, but we know that most of the time the survey will help us make a few tweaks.  Then we will  spend a hundred hours coming up with great survey questions for next year.  To say I am burnt out on surveying students is an understatement. Talk to me in September and I might feel better.

Now, I totally use surveys all the time. They are a great tool and can be useful. When the data does not get used, I start the question the time, energy and effort.  If we spent the same amount of time using the data as we do evaluating the questions and all the different ways to ask them- I think higher education services would look really different. Maybe I am being too critical today - for reals though, we need to use the data we keep collecting. Ok off soap box  . . .

What I really want to write about is a different kind of assessment I did this year with my students.  One of the learning outcomes for the building I work in is "Each resident will be able to define their personal concept of empowerment".  At first, of course the idea was- send a survey! Ask at the end of the year "What is your personal definition of empowerment'.  Though I was less cynical last summer when creating my assessment plan, I was still not excited about more surveys.

Instead I wanted to do something different.  Considering the students who attend our University and the goals of the institution, I decided to try a mural.  Thankfully I have an awesome and supportive supervisor who thought this was a great idea, and did not look at me like I had grown another head.

The concept was fairly simple.  At the end of the year I would provide media (Paper, markers, stickers, pens, pencils - you get the idea) and ask students at events to draw, write, compose etc. their definition of empowerment.  When they were all complete I would put them all together to show the halls concept of empowerment as a mural in one of our lobby's.  I would then be able to code the language used, or images to show common themes etc.

Since I am a big fan of having students involved in pretty much every process possible, I talked about the idea a lot with the RA staff and the Hall Council. The Hall Council of the building LOVED this idea, and created an entire Women's Empowerment program.  They also set aside money so the project could be framed and kept up in the hall for eternity as their legacy.  This is one of the many reasons I love working with students, they make everything so much better.

Here are some examples of the amazing things the residents created.  I am currently in the process of putting the collage together and into the frame.

While every students did not participate, the ones that did created an amazing body of work to look at and study.  The pieces show what they as students have internalized as empowerment.  By September I may have restored faith in surveys, but I really have enjoyed looking for fun creative ways to assess learning and program outcomes.  I am able to show proof of an achieved learning outcome, and while I cannot say where students learned their personal definition, I can use these beautiful creations in many ways.  They will be a legacy for the students who participated, they will inspire conversations for future residents, and they provide a lot of qualitative data about my students. Also they are really beautiful!! Did I mention that?

What are some creative assessments you have done on campus? Are you also burnt out on surveys?

What to write about?

All the latest articles and professional development reading I have been doing lately have told me that I need to start a blog. I have been fairly sure that is a terrible idea.

Don't get me wrong, I take tons of other advice from these articles. It is how I plan assessment, and programming. Sharing with others is how I create staff meetings to make sense and help students grow.

 I have embraced (with a critical eye of course) much of what I find through twitter, blogs, journals and all other electronic and print ways of sharing. However, I was very sure I had little to add to the conversation. If you know me, you know how much I love to talk.  I felt on the internet maybe my best choice was to practice consuming, and listening rather than producing. I think there is a lot of value in using the resources I find online as a professional development tool and way to continue to learn and grow.

The nagging issue I have run into the last few days though centers on hypocrisy, I hate being a hypocrite.

I run an all female residence hall at a small liberal arts university in the pacific northwest. The theme of the hall is Women's Empowerment and Gender Equity- something I am passionate about. I have recently been talking to students about not apologizing before they say an idea. You have all heard them, "This might be crazy but what if we . . ." or worse "This is probably a bad idea but . . ."- It has been a struggle for many of the women, but I am seeing the benefits of them accepting that they have something worthy to offer and that they can and should speak up, accepting their ideas are of value.

note: I highly recommend Peggy McIntosh's article Feeling Like A Fraud if you are interested in more research and information about woman leaders (and leaders in general) apologizing for what they know and think. 

Later in the day, I read another article highlighting how professionals should have a blog, to share ideas, to reflect, to be thoughtful and productive learners. I caught myself thinking again - nope not for me- and then I stopped. Why not? Do I really not have something to write about? Can I tell students to share their voice, ideas and thoughts if I am unwilling to do the same thing? Cue uncomfortable 'oh crap' feeling.

After a few days of consideration, and many rounds of fun recognition events, gifts, notes and starting to plan for next years programming I realized I do have something I want to blog about - Creativity in Student Affairs.

I love to be creative is all aspects of my life, and I find that I thrive in my work when I am able to infuse creative pieces into everyday aspects of the job.  I never realized how much I did until my supervisor commented on how much she appreciated my creativity and then I noticed my peers jump on board with ideas I originally apologized for saying out loud. Yep, I struggle with that issue as well.

I try never to ask students to do something I would be unwilling to do, here's to following through and being an authentic professional! :)