TOW 2001 Evaluation forms summary NRV 010327 A total of 38 evaluation forms were filled out by participants at the TOW meeting. A summary of the comments, rankings, and suggestions is given below. Many thanks to everyone who provided this valuable feedback. Any further feedback would also be welcome at any time. Please send comments to either Ed Himwich (weh@ivscc.gsfc.nasa.gov) or Nancy Vandenberg (nrv@gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov). (The number of "x"s indicates how many people made this comment.) 1. What did you like best overall about the meeting, and why? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx interaction with staff at other sites, discussion of common problems, exchange of information xxxxxxxxx availability of experts, interaction with teachers xxxxxx longer class periods xxxxx organization, on-time schedules xxxx small class sizes, interactive xxx balance of overview and detailed workshops xxx well-prepared, expert instructors xx hands-on classes had us use actual tools and procedures x learned a lot x personal class schedules x good class content x feedback sessions 2. What did you like least overall about the meeting, and why? xxxxxxxxx the weather xxxx too little time for discussions, schedule too tight, spread the meeting over more days xxxx some classes lasted too long xxxx evening feedback sessions ran too late xx lunch period was too short xx registration fee was too high x registration fee should be announced earlier x hotel was too far from Haystack x no chance for less experienced people to have more in depth with instructor x seminars should be limited to 30 min 3. Please rank the following Outstanding Very Good OK Poor Communications announcements 5 27 6 0 web page 5 28 5 0 registration 12 14 11 0 Classes assignments 5 17 13 0 content 9 21 7 0 length 8 20 8 0 type 8 17 8 1 notebooks 6 17 8 0 Local hotel 10 17 10 (too expensive: 3) food 5 21 9 0 other 1 (Heidi) 1 (airport 1 (lack of area closeness) history for visitors) 4. What classes did you find the most worthwhile, and why? General: xxx All workshops - immediate contribution to station problem solutions, offerred opportunity for interaction with instructors, focussed on daily work of doing experiments, natural feedback and discussions occurring, high level of interaction with teachers leads to understanding x Some classes were at too high a level to be understood Specific: xxxxxxxxxxx Recorder maintenance - applicable and useful, practical experience, very practical xxxxxxx Mark V - hearing about new developments xxxxxx Rack maintenance - applicable to stations, provided hands-on specifics, illustrated problems xxxxxx Ops - see relationship of FS and hardware, introductory level xxxxx Pre-check - provided hands-on specifics, introductory level xxxxx Linux system - covered in depth, very helpful xxx Amp cal - xxx Recorder checkout - learned a lot xxx Pointing - provided hands-on specifics xx Head cal - very informative, can't get this information any other way xx Tape recorder fundamentals - very informative, good review xx Phase cal xx Timing - learned a lot xx Science overview xx Head assembly - xx Linux intro - excellent instructor xx VSI xx K4 - hearing about new developments x FFT - x FS future plans x Receiver design - applicable x RFI x S2 x Thin tape 5. What classes did you find the least worthwhile, and why? General: xx Lectures were not as good as the workshops x All classes that tried to do too much Specific: xxxx FS code - not enough detail, too few examples, too theoretical, needs to be presented in a simpler and clearer way xx K4 - more informational than practical, interesting but no application xx RFI - not much new x Phase cal basics - needs to be simplified x Ops - too simple x Thin tape x Correlator - interesting but not really applicable x Rack maintenance - did not cover what was expected 6. What classes would you like to have that were not offered? xxx Open discussion meetings on some topics, with some hands-on if necessary to illustrate a point of discussion xxx More science overview xx A more detailed FS code class x More detail on recording modes and what they mean x More time for one-on-one x Correlation process and evaluation of results x FS installation, and how antenna and instruments are controlled by FS x Operator's meeting x Antenna maintenance (hardware) x Flow of signal through equipment x Problem solving: common problems and how to deal with them x How to survive a power outage during observing x Real-time VLBI systems x New VLBI projects x Antenna problems - learn of problems others have and solutions 7. Suggestions for improvements for TOW2003 xxxxxxxxxxx Make it 4-5 days, shorter days. xxxxx Even more hands-on. xxxx Discussions and feedback among operators about their specific problems. xxxx Leave time after workshops, or on another day, for discussion. xxx Hold the meeting in May, not March. x Course materials on-line BEFORE registration. x Better help for first-time attendees x Better help for those needing language assistance. x Have options for one-on-one meetings. x Longer lunch breaks, tables for eating lunch. x Ask about what classes are desired earlier. x Provide transportation between hotel and Haystack. x Better organized transportation between Westford and Haystack. x Need an index/page numbers to find topics in the notebook. x Need more time for maintenance classes. x Not enough level 1 classes. x All classes should start/end on time. x Don't have pre-registration and then registration, just one. x More scientific feedback to the stations with posters or talks. 8. Other comments xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Very good, well done, very useful, learned a lot. xx Now I know whom to call. x Face to face meetings are essential. x Non-English speakers had difficulty understanding lectures and seminars, written material and demonstrations are easier to understand. x Put notebook material on-line, it's useful for entire community. x The best TOW/Chiefs so far.