Students at Dakota Ridge High School are all familiar with the Panorama survey they are required to take during Seminar. Maybe some don’t really understand why their answers matter, or some dislike taking this survey because they believe it’s useless, but that’s not really the case.
“We are trying to build a culture where we look at our curriculum and make sense of how to make it speak to kids more,” DRHS assistant principal Anne Morris said.
To achieve this goal of improving DRHS curriculum, Morris uses the Panorama Survey to understand and digest what the students at Dakota Ridge are feeling about the classes and overall school experience. The survey categories that administration is currently studying and trying to improve for students are Sense of Belonging, Supportive Relationships, Rigor, and Engagement.
Sense of Belonging responds to questions about understanding, respect, and feeling wanted at Dakota Ridge. Supportive Relationship responses refer to students feeling they have an adult/teacher they can report to if in need, and if students are making these safe and much needed relationships with Dakota Ridge staff. Rigor responses from students show perceptions of teacher encouragement, support in understanding concepts, and expectations. Engagement responses inform Morris, and others, if students are paying attention and understanding teaching material.
The category Morris, counseling, and DRHS staff are struggling with and currently working on is engagement. The survey responses show Morris that many students don’t feel engaged in their classes.
“Every piece of research I’ve ever read says that the amount of engagement, how much kids feel like what they’re learning matters, has a direct correlation to whether they retain it and get to keep that,” Morris said.
In 2024, positive responses went up from 19-23% in the Engagement category. Staff are still trying to improve these numbers and the other category numbers as well.
After asking students and teachers about the Panorama Survey, the answers from both were very similar. Students generally dislike the survey and lack knowledge about where their responses go and what the survey is overall. Students also tend to lack care for the survey.
“That type of stuff doesn’t matter to me if it doesn’t count for a grade,” DRHS freshman Gavyn Buckly said.
Another student, DRHS freshman Gabe Vigil, said that he doesn’t believe that the school does anything with his responses or that he doesn’t feel safe enough to share his true responses. He even mentioned thinking that only bad changes have occurred, like making teachers more strict. Other students are just disinterested in the survey.
“They’re just always so long, and they’re always randomly in Seminars,” DRHS sophomore Weston Shaw said.
(Irelynd E. Wallace)
Teachers, on the other hand, seem to have respect for the survey. They all know what it is used for and where responses go, unlike students.
“I think it’s a great use of data,” DRHS English teacher Emily Sullivan said. “I think it depends on how many students participate, so it’s important that students feel comfortable filling it out.”
Other staff members believe the survey is benefitting students in the long term, and they believe the survey will help Dakota Ridge become a better place for students.
The Panorama Survey was developed to better understand students and help them with their experiences at Dakota Ridge. Scores dictate what the staff will do for the next year to help students feel safe, wanted, and learn from a curriculum fit for them. The next survey is predicted to be given towards the end of the year.
