Learn how to use daily microfeedback to understand scholars' experiences and make responsive adjustments to camp. Review this before camp to understand the form and approach, then reference if needed when reviewing responses and planning your Opening Circle acknowledgments.
What Does The Microfeedback Form Look Like?
Each day, scholars complete a short microfeedback form at the end of camp. The form has three distinct parts.
Part 1: Learning Zone Check-In
The form always begins by asking scholars to identify which zone they felt they were in that day:
- Comfort Zone: Safe and familiar, but not learning much new
- Learning Zone: Challenged, engaged, and growing
- Alarm Zone: Overwhelmed or stressed
There is no “right” zone. What matters is that scholars are able to name their experience honestly so we can respond thoughtfully. When a scholar selects Alarm Zone, follow up with a Slack DM that same day. Here's an example:
“Hey [Name] 💛 I noticed you shared that today on the microfeedback form that you were in the Alarm Zone. Thank you for letting us know. I just wanted to check in and see how you’re feeling and if there’s anything we can do to better support you tomorrow. No pressure to share more than you want. We’re glad you’re here.”
Part 2: Daily Reflections
Scholars also reflect on key aspects of the day, including:
- How supported they felt by their instructional team
- How inspired they felt
- How connected they felt to other scholars
Part 3: Open-Ended Responses
Finally, scholars are invited to share:
- The best part of their day
- One thing they would change about the day
- Anything else they want the team to know
These open-ended responses are often where the most actionable insights live.
How to Read and Use Microfeedback
The IL team meets as a camp team during the afternoon huddle to review, discuss, and make a plan. When reviewing microfeedback, your goal is to notice signals and patterns. It’s okay if you don’t fix everything, and it’s definitely okay if you don’t fix everything overnight.
As you review responses, ask yourself:
- Are multiple scholars naming the same highlight or challenge?
- Is there something small we could adjust tomorrow to better support them?
- Are there specific scholars who may need additional check-ins or encouragement?
Examples of adjustments based on microfeedback:
- If scholars share that working with others was the best part of the day, you might intentionally plan more collaboration tomorrow.
- If scholars ask for more breaks, add short unstructured ones even if the agenda feels tight.
- If a specific scholar mentioned feeling disconnected, send them a DM to learn more.
Microfeedback also informs instructional differentiation. The daily artifact ratings help the team understand how scholars are grasping concepts and ultimately inform how capstone project groups are formed.
Closing the Loop with Scholars
During Opening Circle, take a moment to share what you heard from the previous day's microfeedback:
- Thank scholars for sharing their thoughts
- Name one or two themes you noticed in the feedback
- Share what you plan to adjust based on what they said
A template for this is included in your camp's Mainframe slides. When scholars see that their reflections are valued and acted on, it builds trust.
Protecting Microfeedback Time
Microfeedback time should be treated as a non-negotiable part of closing circle, not something squeezed in if there's time left. A few best practices to follow:
- Prioritize microfeedback during Closing Circle and give scholars at least 3-5 minutes to complete it
- Allow quiet reflection time while scholars complete the form
- Use the timestamp guidance in your Daily Agenda to choose a community-building activity that fits the time available so microfeedback never feels like an afterthought