Appraisal

Overview

This activity can be used to analyse or appraise anything. For example, you might use it to appraise your strategic plan or to review different school designs so you can discuss future improvements for your own school.

Benefits

This activity provides a logical order to structure your discussion. This can then be visualised into a framework to support clear group thinking. This in turn will support a visual reflection of opinions and discussion for good group decision-making.

Preparation

• Invite everyone who should be part of the appraisal and who could benefit from being included in the discussion.
• Prepare flip charts with the worksheet structure and print out individual worksheets for participants to take notes.
• Prepare and distribute any materials that will help people understand what they are appraising, e.g. documents and images.

Materials

• Worksheet.
• Choose some imagery to stimulate thinking and discussion, from our school redesign gallery.
• Select some appropriate Be prepared future trends.

What you do

• Select what you will be appraising in advance.
• Ensure everyone is clear on what is being appraised and clarify any questions before beginning.
• Use the matrix provided in the worksheet (replace with different criteria if more useful) on a flip chart or white board, or projected onto a wall.
• Facilitate a discussion around each evaluation criteria, writing summaries as you go. Put at least two things in each category. (Tip: If 6+ people, work in small groups, then regroup and present summaries to each other.)
• Use the outcomes of the discussion to inform decisions or create an action plan.
• Photograph or transcribe the notes and share with everyone at the session.

Top tips for your group activities

• Be well prepared
• Consider changing your usual meeting environment
• Know what you want to come away with before you start
• Break the ice with a warm up
• Give people enough time to get into and do the activities
• Keep people engaged and motivated
• Encourage and proactively get input from everyone
• Think about how your going to capture the notes
• Use flip charts, coloured post its, coloured pens, paper, stickers
• If possible use a flexible and effective facilitator

Use worksheet online (Exploratree)

Activity worksheet download