Community Outreach Chess Classes:
Students and parents attending our Community Outreach Chess Classes are provided surveys that assess satisfaction with the facilities, quality of instruction, ability of the instructors, and the event as a whole.  Results are reviewed by staff and posted on our website.  Comments are evaluated and modifications are made to improve future events.

Evaluation Form for Students

Evalutaion Form for Students (spanish)

Evalutiaon Form for Parents

Evaluation Form for Parents (spanish)

Summary of the data:

1. Assessment methods:  We conducted the assessments by having the students  and parents attending our chess classes fill out a survey.

2. Learning objectives:  We are trying to determine if we are using the correct type of facilities, if they are receiving effective instruction, how well the instructors are teaching, and the overall impression of the class.

3. Learning outcomes:  We asked all of the students attending our classes and their parents to fill out our surveys.  An average of about 75% of the participants and their parents turned in our surveys. 

Student and parent survey results.  A summary of the survey results for all classes given during the ’06-’07 school year shows the following: (520 total responses)

When asked to rate the facilities where the classes were held

73% rated them “Excellent”
22% rated them “Good”
4% rated them “Fair”
1% rated them “Poor”

When asked to rate their/their child’s instructor

84% rated the instructor “Excellent”
14% rated the instructor “Good”
2% rated the instructor “Fair”
0% rated the instructor “Poor”

When asked if what they learned will help them/their child become a better chess player

99% said “Yes”
1% said “No”

When asked if they would come/bring their child to another clinic

99% said “Yes”
1 % said “No”

When asked to grade the overall class/clinic

87% gave the event an “A”
11% gave the event a “B”
2% gave the event a “C”
0% gave the event a “D”
0% gave the event an “F”

 

October 12, 2007 Class

How would you rate the classrooms where the chess classes were held?

          Excellent               Good                    Fair             Poor
          69.5%                   24%                      5%              1.5%

How would you rate your instructor today?

          Excellent               Good                    Fair             Poor
          84%                      14.5%                   1.5%           0%

Do you think what you learned today will help you become a better chess player?

          Yes                       No
          97%                      3%

Would you come to another one of our chess classes?

          Yes                       No
          100%                    0%

How would you rate this chess class?

          Excellent               Good                    Fair             Poor
          81%                      16%                      3%              0%

 

November 30, 2007 Class

How would you rate the classrooms where the chess classes were held?

          Excellent               Good                    Fair             Poor
          70%                      26%                      3%              1%

How would you rate your instructor today?

          Excellent               Good                    Fair             Poor
          78%                      22%                      0%              0%

Do you think what you learned today will help you become a better chess player?

           Yes                       No
           100%                    0%

Would you come to another one of our chess classes?

           Yes                       No
           100%                    0%

How would you rate this chess class?

          Excellent               Good                    Fair             Poor
          72%                      28%                      0%               0%

4.    The data tells us that the vast majority of the respondents were satisfied with the facilities.  The instructors received very high ratings, and almost everyone said the classes would help them or their child become a better chess player.  Almost everyone who responded said they would come or bring their children to another of our clinics.  The overall grades were very high for the overall classes.

5.  After each chess event we host at UTB/TSC, we evaluate the function and plan how to make the next one better.  We very much appreciate the  feedback we receive on the evaluations, and we use this information to make improvements.  Below are some of the comments received after our Sept. 16 Chess Class, and examples of how we are making changes in response to your suggestions.

Pre Registration so we can get the students placed and get started right away”

We have gone back to our system of Pre-Registering students for our Community Outreach Chess Classes, beginning with the October 7 class.

“Too much noise for students.  Couldn’t hear.  Would have liked classes to be held in separate classrooms.  Too many distractions for students.”

We have five additional classrooms for the October 7 class, and 6 additional classrooms for the November 11 class.  We will be separating the groups.

“Better snack service”

The Scorpion Cafe is planning to have more staff on hand for the next event.  The Barnes and Noble Café, featuring Starbucks products, will be open during the event, and is located right across the street.  In addition, we will have a booster group selling snacks.

“I’m looking forward to a workshop for parents”

UTB/TSC Chess Program Director Russell Harwood will be presenting a chess class for parents during the October 7 event.  Mr. Harwood has coached scholastic chess for 9 years, and his teams have won about 20 state championships and 7 national championships.

“Demo board – light green please”

We ordered 4 more demo boards, so we won’t need to use the dark green one anymore.  We also purchased 5 more easels for the demo boards.

“Evaluation forms in Spanish, please”

We will have evaluation forms in Spanish for the next session.

“Taking too long to make the groups and get started.”

We have printed nametags for the participants with their instructor’s name and room number.  They receive these name tags as they are checking in which helps us get started much faster. 

“Smaller groups for the beginners”

We have assigned two instructors to each of the beginner’s groups. 

“Desks in the classrooms are too small for the chess boards.”

We have reserved two lecture halls with tables where the instructors can take their groups for simuls and to play.

“Can you have classes for adults?”

In addition to offering sessions for parents, we have opened our outreach classes to adults and formed special groups for these participants. 

“I didn’t know about the class until the last minute.”

We are sending flyers for upcoming classes to a liaison for the BISD Chess Program so they may be posted on the BISD website.  We have taken flyers for upcoming classes to local tournaments.

“Two hours is a long time for the younger kids.”

We are now taking a ten to fifteen minute break halfway through the sessions.

Chess Coaches evaluations. 
When we provided training for area chess coaches, we evaluated the session and obtained the following results:

Chess Coaches Evaluations Form
        

• When asked to rate the facilities and learning environment where the training was held  (from 0 to 5, with 0=Very Poor and 5=Excellent)                     
• 100% rated the facilities and learning environment “5”
  
  
• When asked how they would rate their instructors for the session
• 100% rated their instructors “5”
  
  
• When asked if the training would help them teach chess more effectively
• 71% said “Definitely”
• 29% said “Probably”
• 0% said “Maybe”, “Probably Not” or “No”
  
  
• When asked if they would recommend our chess training to a friend or colleague
• 100% said “Definitely”
•  0% said “Probably”, “Maybe”, “Probably Not”, or “No”

The complete set of comments from coaches attending our training session is below.

“Very positive informative session.  Presenters had great attitude!  Now I feel more confident!”

“You guys are awesome!”

“I love the way of Rusty and Gilberto helped us”

“This was very effective and motivating”

“Loved it!  I feel much more confident and would love to continue with more in depth lessons.  Awesome job!”

“Good introduction-just need more sessions because there is so much to learn!”

“The training was good but for my part mostly things I already knew.  I would have liked to have a separate session all day.”

One of the coaches mentioned to us after the session that it was the first training she had ever attended that she was not looking at her watch!

“Would like more info on how to implement and keep up with a chess team”

“I enjoyed (& learned the most from) playing the game!”

“Wonderful presentation!  I learned so much!  Thank you!”

“A little more time doing hands-on would be helpful, especially with a bit more feedback (or continual feedback as we talked through the moves).  The book will be very helpful!  Very enthusiastic, approachable, and knowledgeable instructors!”

“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.  I learned so much that I can use in my classroom.”

“Awesome opportunity to expand my knowledge of the game.  Very knowledgeable instructors.”

“Less talk in the afternoon and more play.  All the info on tricky moves is okay if you are experienced.  Maybe have 2-part training.”

“I loved it!”

“Great presenters!”

“Friendly – willing to kindly answer questions”

“This was an excellent training”

“This was a very informative session”

“Excellent!”

“Good strategy book”

“Good job!”

“This was a very instructional inservice.  It was an excellent presentation.  I learned much about chess and how to teach it to others.  Thank you!”

“I feel less afraid and can’t wait to play my first game.  Thank you!”

 

Chess Coaches’ Training Session Evaluation Summary Harlingen CISD Dec. 13, 2007 (27 responses)

1.  How long have you been a chess coach/sponsor?
      0 years             1 year            2 years        3 years        More than 3 years
        59%                 4%                   18.5%           0%                       18.5%

2.  How would you rate your level of chess knowledge? (0=none, 5=highest)
            0               1               2                3            4              5
            26%       18.5%     18.5%       26%       11%         0%

3.  Have you ever received training on how to effectively teach chess?
            Yes                                          No
            15%                                         85%

4.  How would you rate the facilities and learning environment where the training session was held?  (0 = Very Poor, 5 = Excellent)
            0                1               2               3                4                 5
            0%            0%            0%           0%          18.5%        81.5%

5.  How would you rate your instructors for today’s training session? 
(0 = Very Poor, 5 = Excellent)
            0               1                2               3               4               5
            0%            0%            0%           0%          15%         85%

6.  Do you feel that this training will help you teach chess more effectively?
     Definitely             Probably          Maybe             Probably Not           No
            78%                 15%                 7%                          0%                   0%

7.  Would you recommend our chess training to a friend or colleague?
     Definitely            Probably          Maybe             Probably Not               No
         81.5%                15%                 3.5%                     0%                        0%

 

 

Parent Class Evaluations:

            On Saturday, January 27th, 2007, Chess Program Director, Russell Harwood, offered free classes for chess parents during a tournament at Resaca Middle School in Los Fresnos, TX.  The classes were attended by approximately 40 parents. Only 13 evaluations were completed; however, because most of the parents had to leave the class early as their children arrived from playing their round. 

Evaluations for Parents’ Classes Form.

• How would you rate your instructor for today’s training session?(0=Very Poor, 5=Excellent)
• 12 respondents (92%) rated the instructor a “5”
• 1 respondent (8%) rated the instructor both “4 and 5”
  
  
• Do you feel that this training helped you better understand chess?
• 100% said definitely
• 0% said probably, maybe, probably not, or no
  
  
• Would you recommend our chess training to a friend or colleague?
• 100% said definitely
• 0% said probably, maybe, probably not, or no
  
  
• Would you be interested in another chess training class?
• 100% said definitely
• 0% said probably, maybe, probably not, or no
  
  
• Are you aware that UTB/TSC has been offering free chess classes for area students?
• 9 respondents (69%) said yes
• 4 respondents (31%) said no
  
  
• Have you ever taken your child/children to a free chess class at UTB/TSC?
• 7 respondents (54%) said yes
• 6 respondents (46%) said no

                 
Changes anticipated in assessments:

Because we have a large number of Pre-Kinder and Kinder children at our classes who are not yet familiar with the system of letter grades (they are graded as “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory”, instead of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” or “F”), there have been inconsistencies and errors in grading our events.  We are modifying our survey to make it easier for these young students to express their opinions accurately.

• We are working on a form for chess team members and staff to evaluate our events and program, instead of relying solely on focus group feedback.
  
  
• We are adding a section for comments on the evaluation forms for students

 

 

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Fall ’07 Student Teacher Training

          Working in collaboration with the School of Education, the UTB/TSC Chess Program offered chess training to the Fall ’07 class of student teachers.  The training took place on August 21-23, for one hour per day, and was attended by 107 student teachers.  Instruction was provided by Russell Harwood, Director of the UTB/TSC Chess Program, GM Gilberto Hernandez, UTB/TSC Chess Coach, and Jerry Nash, Director of Scholastic Chess for the United States Chess Federation.  In addition to the rules and basic strategies of the game, special emphasis was given to incorporating chess across the curriculum into classroom instruction.  At the end of the session, the students were asked to evaluate the classes.  The evaluation instrument and a summary of the results follows.

 

Fall ’07 Student Teacher Chess Training Evaluation

1.  Did you know how to play chess before attending these training sessions?
                                     
                   Yes                       Yes, but very little                     No
                  14.5%                            3%                                    82.5%

2.  Before this training, did you see any value in using chess in your instruction?

                   Yes                    Sort of                     No
                   27%                      1%                       72%

3.  After completing this training, do you see any value in using chess in your instruction?

     Yes                                 No
     97%                                3%

4.  How likely are you to incorporate chess into your instruction?

     Very Likely               Somewhat Likely                      Not Likely
          35%                                59%                                      6%

5.  Given everything that was covered during this week’s orientation sessions, how do you feel about the amount of time that was allotted for  chess training?

      Not enough time          Just right                  Too much time
               64%                          28.5%                             7.5%

 

Spring ’08 Student Teacher Chess Training Evaluation Summary (99 responses)

1.  Did you know how to play chess before attending these training sessions?
                                     
       Yes                                 No
       23%                                77%
                                     
2.  Before this training, did you see any value in using chess in your instruction?

       Yes                                 No
       26%                                74%

3.  After completing this training, do you see any value in using chess in your instruction?

       Yes                                 No
       93%                                7%

4.  How likely are you to incorporate chess into your instruction?

       Very Likely                     Somewhat Likely             Not Likely
              30%                                57%                                 13%

5.  Given everything that was covered during this week’s orientation sessions, how do you feel about the amount of time that was allotted for  chess training?

       Not enough time        Just right               Too much time
                   35%                      53%                             12%