Online evaluations from 2009

Oh My God Lois!

The response to Richard yesterday has been fantastic & I was so worried because I presented him with a ridiculously diverse audience!! I assume he's always like Tigger, but he truely derserves a medal for his performance- there were staff I know who are really stressed & uptight, & who never crack a smile, who were rocking in the aisles wiping away tears....soooo funny watching everyone's reactions. I know he said he doesn't bother with evaluations but here are some comments people wrote on my evaluation forms....

"Brilliant! Come to my school!!!"

"All excellent, a breath of fresh air for me & A trip to IKEA on the cards!"

"Thankyou- most relevant INSET I've had in years. We need to see him again to carry on with his Sensology"

"The most successful thing about today was Richard Hirstwood- absolutely brilliant"

"the ways in which such cheap & simple objects can be uesd in small spaces is absolutely brilliant for my class- can't wait to try them"

"Fantastic fun...has made my job more exciting with so many fab ideas-thankyou"

"Fantastic course- best I've been on in 14 years"

"What a fab day! i feel brimming with ideas that I would like to share with Foundation Phase practitioners.
Diolch yn fawr iawn" (thank you very much)

"An excellent day. Full of interesting ideas, very stimulating. An inspiring speaker"

"Fab day. Richard was awesome. Really enjoyed & learned a lot!"

"fantastic for all our children in units & mainstream- full of brilliant ideas & totally captivating"

I'll stop there, I'm sure you get the gist!!!!

Hi Richard, I was attending your course at Moorcroft School. You may remember me i was the one who was in the front row and was playing with thw wiggly snake and chewing gum. I just wanted to say that i was very intrested in what you showed us and i have used some of your ideas when i got back to class. Thank you again it was great, i am really intrested in what you delivered. I work on a 1:1 babsis with a student with visual impairment and have studied visual impairment at the RNIB. Love the sensory teaching, you have opened my mind. Thank you again keep up your passion in your work.

What do you think you will remember about the course? IKEA HA HA HA HA

Are there any things that should not be changed? dont change a thing delivered perfectly

There should have been more opportunities for....

There should have been less...

Sum up the day in five words... exciting,passionate,intresting,funny and colourful

Any other comments? Would love to have more information e mailed to me to keep up to date with all new technology available

Can we use your comments on the website: Yes

How was the course? Sorry I was that irritating person who arrived late!! Course was full of practical and inspiring ideas. My SLT work is mostly in the community with pre-school children and I did wonder how much of it I would find applicable but I found many relevant ideas.

What do you think you will remember about the course? A really open approach to use of equipment that is already out there - whether that's new ways to use an Iphone or your wonderful umbrellas. My SLTAs are already making some up. One of them frequently does parent story sacks workshops in a local Children's Centre - I know she's going to weave your ideas into her work.
I was surprised by my own (child-like) enjoyment of the resources!

Are there any things that should not be changed? It must be a pain driving your big toolbox round but nothing is better than seeing equipment for real.

There should have been more opportunities for.... I would have liked maybe one opportunity to do a quick small group activity thinking about practically applying one or two of your ideas to a child/children on my caseload.
(You probably do this on a longer course)

There should have been less... ...people in the room.

Sum up the day in five words... a real sensory treasure trove.

Any other comments? Do you know of any other (smaller/ cheaper/ more mobile) equipment that does DAB (other than cassette players of course!!)? Would be interested to know.

How was the course? really great, lots of new ideas.

What do you think you will remember about the course? i will remember that you don't have to spend loads of money to make the environment sensory for the children i work with.


Sum up the day in five words... sensory play all the way!

How was the course? Exceptionally enjoyable, very informative, lots of high and low tech ideas and gadgets, no jargon. Richard obviously loves his subject and puts his all into it. Great!

What do you think you will remember about the course? The simple ideas eg with umbrellas, torches, etc. The energetic delivery.

Are there any things that should not be changed? Don't change a thing

There should have been more opportunities for.... zilch

There should have been less... Can't think of anything

Sum up the day in five words...
fun
informative
useful
inspirational
thought provoking

Any other comments? Thanks

How was the course? excellent- the whole staff was motivated and ready to put ideas into action.Entertaining and highly informative.

What do you think you will remember about the course? Mostly the great enthusiasm shown by all our staff.
the affirmation of the value of doing very simple things.

Are there any things that should not be changed?

There should have been more opportunities for.... As you say there is nevr enough time

There should have been less...

Sum up the day in five words... exciting, inspirational,relevant,too short.

Any other comments? looking forward to your visit working wth pupils in a couple of weeks

How was the course? interesting and gave me new ideas to use with the children

What do you think you will remember about the course? different ways to use the projectors and umbrellas. ie having theme umbrellas and using different materials to project on.

Are there any things that should not be changed? projection, enthusiasm for looking at materials for diffrent uses

There should have been more opportunities for.... hands on trials, although this will come with our individual sessions

There should have been less... on products that our school dont own i,e Iphone

Sum up the day in five words... Enthusiastic
Inventive
Imaginative
knowledge
thought provoking

How was the course? Interesting and appropriate to our students.

What do you think you will remember about the course? The brolly ideas and projection onto net

Are there any things that should not be changed?

There should have been more opportunities for.... Practical demos of equipment although I appreciate that the second day will focus on this

There should have been less... Info on ipods for those of us of a non-technological leaning

Sum up the day in five words... A valuable and enjoyable experience

How was the course? Excellent! Richard was inspirational to all staff and I really think he has achieved the outcome I wanted from the day - staff motivated to use the room flexibly and appropriately with ALL our kids.

What do you think you will remember about the course? All the fun resources and ideas.

I will also always carry the guilt of making him work through such a difficult time for him! He is a true professional.

Are there any things that should not be changed? No

There should have been more opportunities for.... More hours in the day! And a better back for Richard.

There should have been less... N/A

Sum up the day in five words... Fun
Inspiring
Thought provoking
Memorable
Useable

How was the course? Absolutely fantastic! A full feast of exciting ideas, interactive learning and really useful practical ideas that can easily be taken back to your setting.

What do you think you will remember about the course? Richard's enthusiasm which is definitely infectious!

Are there any things that should not be changed? Cheap and cheerful ideas especially the brollies!

There should have been more opportunities for.... Don't think there could have been more that what there was already. More cheap ideas?

There should have been less...

Sum up the day in five words... exciting, inspiring, innovotive, wacky and psycadellic

How was the course? It was very useful, I work with the under 3's, so early stimulation, especially to promote eye tracking and language development is a huge part of my job. Many of the children are EAL, so this type of stimulation will not exclude them. Good to meet other early years professionals and such an enthusiastic tutor!

What do you think you will remember about the course? The very moving video of Beaumont.
The fabulous umbrellas - going to be making them!
The tactile caterpillar made from rubber - I have to get one!

Are there any things that should not be changed? Your enthusiasm! The very 'open forum', I felt able to offer comments and ask questions without feeling silly.

The 'greeting' part made great change from the usual (my name is..I work at...).

There should have been more opportunities for.... Exploring resourses.

There should have been less... ?

Sum up the day in five words... Inspiring. Enjoyable. Achievable. Practicle. Great.

How was the course? Exhausting!!! but brilliant. Richard talks and moves non stop, lights on, lights off, show clips, lights on, lights off,show materials, lights on,lights off. I needed a lay down but lunch time. So much to share but not enough time to share it all in. Lots of very clever but simple ideas as well as a good demonstation of the sensory trolley. Good insight into sensory play.

What do you think you will remember about the course? Everything. The way Richard presents the course. (very well)

Are there any things that should not be changed? Richard.

There should have been more opportunities for.... Us to play with the sensory trolley.

There should have been less... There shouldn't be less of any of it.

Sum up the day in five words... Informative, brilliant, good ideas, tiring.


Any other comments? Thank you

How was the course? fantastic found Richard passionate about the work he does

What do you think you will remember about the course? all the fabulous ideas with the umberellas

Are there any things that should not be changed? all the day course it was great but could have done with a couple more hours

There should have been more opportunities for.... would like to have got to know about the life skills for use with post 16 students as there wasn't enough time

There should have been less... nothing

Sum up the day in five words... great excellent wasn't long enough