{"id":10952,"date":"2016-11-17T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog?p=10952&preview=true&preview_id=10952"},"modified":"2025-05-21T06:27:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T10:27:31","slug":"how-to-evaluate-student-conferences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tiie.w3.uvm.edu\/blog\/how-to-evaluate-student-conferences\/","title":{"rendered":"How to evaluate student-led conferences"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feedback, feedback, feedback!<\/h1>\n

\"student-ledAs educators, it\u2019s absolutely critical that we reflect on our practices, especially new ones. As schools around the state finish with parent-teacher conferences this fall, I\u2019d like to take a look at how to evaluate student-led conferences in particular, by checking in on how one school built feedback metrics into the process from the start.<\/p>\n

As Emeril Lagasse would say: BAMS!<\/p>\n


\nLet’s look at how Brattleboro Area Middle School (BAMS) implemented their first ever student led conferences. For a school of 340 7th and 8th graders, that is no small feat. This took months of planning, preparation and learning for the teachers and students in this building.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at how they built evaluation metrics into the process.<\/p>\n

Ask for feedback up front<\/h2>\n
\"how
The welcome wagon for student-led conferences at Brattleboro Area Middle School.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was a friendly and welcoming vibe upon entering the doors of BAMS for conferences this week. Two guidance counselors warmly greeted parents and students. They found your place and directed you to the correct room.<\/p>\n

Ask parents for feedback after conferences<\/h3>\n

In this case, teams of teachers directed parents to Survey Stations in both the upstairs and downstairs entry ways of the school. Directions to the survey, with plentiful chromebooks and chairs made it easy for parents to take 90 seconds to report their feelings and perceptions.<\/p>\n

\"how
A parent completes the conveniently located digital Feedback Survey before leaving the building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you completed a survey, you were entered into a raffle for gift baskets. Brilliant marketing and strategy, guidance counselors! I\u2019ll take two surveys to increase my chances, please.<\/p>\n

Evaluating the Success of SLCs needs to consider feedback from all stakeholders: the parents, the students, and the educators.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an example of a survey for parent input on student-led conferences in Google Forms format:<\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

But do parent comments provide validation?<\/h3>\n

Consider this parent\u2019s remarks after attending the conference:<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this is such a great opportunity for our students to showcase their talents and abilities. I appreciate the collaboration and the conversations that came of the student led conference process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another parent acknowledged more the feeling of the conference. \u201c[The best part of the conference was\u2026] the support I felt from the team. It was so collaborative, warm and inviting. I loved the opportunity it gave my daughter to feel confident. The format of the conference also gave her the ability to feel ownership of her education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another parent comment that gives validation to the process, \u201cSeeing pride on my son\u2019s face…getting to see hints of the positive relationships these teachers have with my son\u201d.<\/p>\n

Goosebumps, teachers. Goosebumps.<\/p>\n

Get feedback from students<\/h2>\n

You could survey students in a similar way to the digital survey for parents. But I think there are observable indicators of student success that could be even more powerful.<\/p>\n