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TOT 133 – WEEK 133
FEEDBACK FORM/S
Preparing a useful feed back form is essential part of any training program. The objective of any feed back is (i) “To get information” (ii) Work upon the information received (iii) Achieve better results.
A feed back form has to be prepared with caution . Uniform or stereo types of questions or forms should not be used. The ones prepared for some earlier program should not be used mechanically for the other program. It is always advisable to have new set of questionnaire in the feed back forms . It is also ideal to have different feedback forms being given to participants at the end of each day, if the training is scheduled for more than a day.
Using the very same set of feedback forms for every training program , irrespective of who the participants are and where is it conducted , speaks about lack of professionalism in a trainer.
Designing a proper feedback form speaks volumes about the professionalism on the part of the trainer. Trainees get a feeling that (i) Their views are valued. (ii) Their opinions matter. (iii) They are respected. (iv) Their participatory role has value additions.
When the opinions given/ information provided /views expressed in the feed back forms are taken note of by the trainers, trainees feel validated. They feel happy that they are heard and respected. Trainers will also know the expectations from and difficulties faced by the trainees if any.
If a day’s training is handled by two or three resource persons, not withstanding the fact that the organizers of the training would be giving feed back forms, and getting the feedback from the trainees, at the end of the training, each trainer/resource person can also give individual feedback forms and request for honest feedback.
If a group of trainers are involved in a training program, it is ideal that at the end of the day they all sit together and read the information given in each of the feed back forms, and see if there are any areas of corrections required to be implemented on their part.
BEFORE THE TRAINING:-
Sending a list of questionnaires to the participants before the training requesting their feed back on relevant areas will help in structuring /designing the program. This will also help to some extent in the process of need assessment.
DURING THE TRAINING
Feed back can also be taken during the course of training program. It can be taken after each session. Or can be taken at the end of the day.
Trainer can keep aside 5-7 minutes of available time to enable the trainees to fill in the feed back forms
AFTER THE TRAINING
A consolidated feed back form is to be given to the trainees on the last day of the training.
ADVANTAGES: Trainers will know where they stand
Trainers can work on themselves.
They can work on the areas of improvement.
They get a feeling of fulfilment and satisfaction when their efforts are appreciated
Trainers understand how critically the trainees would be watching them
Trainers understand whether they have stood up to the expectations of the trainees or not.
Trainers understand that trainees do not appreciate lack of professionalism in any area of training.
CONTENTS OF FEED BACK FORM:-
There can never be a uniform format for a feedback form
The contents should include (i) What does the trainer want to know from the trainees
(ii) What do the trainees want to tell/inform the trainers?
(iii) What are the positive aspects of the training?
(iv) Which are the areas where improvements can be made?
v) Suggestions for improvement
It is a challenge to design different feedback form for each day in forty hours’ training program spread over a period of five days. A trainer cannot prepare all the feedback forms for all the days and give it on each day. A feedback back form in such circumstances has to be prepared only on the previous day . It should have been prepared after taking note of the reflections of the day’s training. Excepting the first day’s feed back form, the other days’ forms have to be prepared only at the end of each day.
In advanced training programs, a very skilled trainer can give different feedback form to each of the participants. Even though it is a Herculean task and becomes time consuming, it helps in the individual growth of a trainer.
It is also ideal to get feed back from co trainers. Where the trainer wants to know about his/her individual strengths and weakness in a given area, the feed back form may have to be prepared in such a way that the feed back given is made use of the by the trainer for individual development.
“I think it is very important to have a feedback loop, where you are constantly thinking about what you have done and how you could be doing it better.”
Elon Musk – Business magnate and Investor
(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 