Table 3: Comparing ‘Ann Other’ Bales’s analysis by hand and by OpenMentor
Bales’s categories
John
OpenMentor
A Positive reactions
0
1
B Attempted answers
8
7
C Questions
2
1
D Negative reactions
1
2
it is remarkable that OpenMentor can categorise the comments in this way.
I’m unclear what the ‘ideal’ totals are based on. Who or what has determined what they should be? How are the ‘expected’ totals arrived at?
some of the tutor’s comments seem to have been left out (but spookily I still seem to have the same total number!)
the negative category is open to interpretation more than the others. If it means the tutor is making a negative and unhelpful comment which is unsupportive, then I don’t think any of the comments fall into that category, but if it means telling the student they did something wrong then one comment (about page numbers) does belong there.
maybe D is not so much about what is said but how it is said
why is Bales’s Category B called ‘attempted answers’? Would ‘suggested answers’ be any better?
OpenMentor feedback analysis
Table 3: Comparing ‘Ann Other’ Bales’s analysis by hand and by OpenMentor
Bales’s categories
John
OpenMentor
A Positive reactions
0
1
B Attempted answers
8
7
C Questions
2
1
D Negative reactions
1
2