Participant evaluations are one of the most valuable parts of running an AOM class. They give you direct insight into how your session was experienced: emotionally, intellectually, and socially. Here’s how to access the data, what to look for, and how to use the responses to grow as a facilitator.
How to access participant evaluations
- Wait until the class has ended. Evaluations become available only after the scheduled class time and date.
- Complete your instructor evaluation. You’ll need to submit your own reflections before viewing participant responses. (Here's why)
- Go to your dashboard. Navigate to your activity log or previous classes section, click on the class you want to review, and the evaluation results will be right there waiting.
What participants are asked
Participants answer a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, including: how well the class met its learning objectives, whether it helped them identify or address stigma around mental illness, whether they learned something new about mental health, if they are more or less likely to seek support after the class, their main takeaway, whether their instructor seemed comfortable with the material, suggestions for improvement, and demographic information (age, gender, race/ethnicity).
How to interpret the responses
- Look at objective alignment first. This shows how well the class content connected with participants’ experiences.
- Explore open-ended responses for insight. Look for themes in takeaways and suggestions — what landed emotionally? What could be clearer or stronger next time?
- Review the comfort question thoughtfully. “Did your instructor seem comfortable?” can give you helpful perspective, especially as you build confidence over time.
- Use demographic data to reflect on reach. Anonymous info about age, race/ethnicity, and gender helps you understand who you’re reaching, how inclusive your sessions feel, and if content is landing differently for some folks vs. others. This is particularly useful for classes that are explicitly about mental health experiences of racism or within a specific gender.
Tips & Notes
- You can revisit evaluation results any time from your dashboard through the activity log or previous classes section.
- If your school has an institutional plan, three questions are also compiled into school-wide averages visible to all instructors and admins at your institution. These help your school track how AOM programming is supporting student wellness over time.
