What are Desk Crits?

When and where do Desk Crits occur?

Informal, one-on-one feedback sessions between a student and an instructor or peer.

Characterized by their conversational nature, allowing for immediate, personalized guidance that helps students refine their ideas and improve their design projects.

They typically occur at the student's workspace, where the student presents their work-in-progress and receives constructive feedback.

Formal vs Informal 

Desk Crits

Formal

Informal

Nature: Casual, spontaneous, and less structured.

Setting: Typically occurs at the student’s desk or workspace without a predefined schedule.

Purpose: Provides immediate feedback, fosters a relaxed and open environment for discussion, and encourages continuous improvement.

Example: A teacher stopping by a student's desk to offer quick suggestions on a project.

Nature: Structured, planned, and specific

Setting: May occur in a designated critique area at scheduled times.

Purpose: In-depth analysis of the project, with a focus on specific details of the project.

Example: A scheduled critique session where students sign up on an allotted time and prepare specific talking points to have with their teacher.

Best Practices for Implementing Desk Crits

Establishing Trust:

• Foster positive relationships between students and instructors.
• Demonstrate respect for each student’s ideas and efforts.
• Provide consistent and fair feedback.

Encouraging Openness and Vulnerability:

• Encourage students to share unfinished work without fear of judgment.
• Model vulnerability by sharing your own work and challenges.
• Create a classroom culture where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities.

Structuring the Critique Session

Setting Clear Objectives:

• Define the purpose of the critique session (e.g., concept feedback, technical refinement).
• Communicate the goals to students before starting.

Managing Time Effectively:

• Allocate specific time slots for each student or group.
• Use timers to keep track of discussions.
• Prioritize key points to ensure comprehensive feedback within the time limit.

Use successful methods to structure your session (seen in next slide)

• "Praise, Question, Suggest" Method
• Emphasizing Specific and Actionable Feedback
• Encouraging Self-Reflection

Providing Constructive Criticism

"Praise, Question, Suggest" Method

Praise: Start with positive feedback to build confidence.

Question: Ask questions to encourage deeper thinking and self-reflection.

Suggest: Offer specific, actionable suggestions for improvement

Encouraging Self-Reflection

Encourage students to reflect on their work before receiving feedback.

Facilitate peer feedback sessions to promote collaborative learning.

Use reflection prompts to guide students in self-assessment.

Emphasizing Specific and Actionable Feedback

Avoid vague comments; be specific about what works and what needs improvement.

Provide concrete examples and actionable steps for enhancement.

Integrating Desk Crits into your Curriculum

Frequency and Timing of Crits:

• Schedule regular critique sessions (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly).
• Incorporate crits at key stages of the project development.

Aligning Crits with Project Milestones:

• Plan critiques around major project milestones (e.g., concept development, mid-project review, final presentation).
• Use milestones to provide targeted feedback relevant to the project's current stage.

Documenting Feedback and Progress:

• Keep records of feedback provided during critique sessions.
• Encourage students to document their progress and responses to feedback.

Reflection

What are some key takeaways that you learned about desk crits?

How did you see Ryan and Paula perform desk crits during today's session?

Do you have any stories related to desk crits?