Student evaluations

About that time again. Had to assemble materials for my first year review (huh?) at Quinnipiac, which included my student evaluations. As always, here they are for my two graduate seminars last semester…

Course Evaluations, Fall / 2007 – Introduction to Interactive Communication (Grad)
(For questions 1 through 10, 5=Strongly Agree.)

1. The instructor has command of the subject and presents material in an appropriate way. [4.45]

2. Makes him/herself clear, states objectives, summarizes major points, presents material in an organized manner. [4.27]

3. Is sensitive to the response of the class, encourages student participation and welcomes questions and discussions. [4.73]

4. Is available to students and responds to student questions and comments. [4.45]

5. Appears to enjoy teaching, is enthusiastic about the subject, makes the course interesting. [4.64]

6. Grading of exams and assignments is fair. [4.00]

7. The books/materials are appropriate. [4.27]

8. The instructor is well qualified to teach this course. [4.82]

9. I have gained valuable knowledge and/or skills from this course. [4.55]

10. I would recommend this course to others. [4.64]

11. Comment on the value of what you have learned in this class.
* What I have learned will better equip me to advance in a field of rapid growth.
* Extremely engaging and relevant to my work/job.
* Good beginning to this field, so much to learn, but looking forward to going more in depth.
* Ask me in five years.
* Have learned a lot, a lot of time was committed to this class.
* Great value, directly applied to my job immediately.
* Great class. Love open discussion.
* Good foundation for other courses in school of interactive communications.
* I have learned a lot.
* Brought my attention to issues not normally covered or known by myself beforehand.
* Excellent.

12. Comment on the instructor’s teaching approach and effectiveness.
* Comfortable environment enabling all to participate.
* Very engaging and effective.
* Very, very knowledgeable, funny, insightful.
* Clearly excited about material and lots of interesting supplementary material, too. Makes you think. Makes you want to think.
* Interesting. Needs to grade faster.
* Unusual, interesting, held my attention.
* Very good.
* Entertaining.
* Friendly, approachable.
* Very open and informing.
* Part lecture, part interactive, mixed together, shaken, not stirred, and served well.
* Excellent.

13. How might this course be improved?
* No oral exam.
* Meet in less formal space.
* Less readings, more focus on several items, more readings by non-academicians. There are too many people to remember for the reading load.
* More pizza.
* Assign designated blogs to comment. Very time consuming to be random and read all blogs. Did not like that.
* Correct grades in a more timely manner.
* Faster grading.
* Issue graded assignments in a more timely manner.
* Fewer papers!
* I wish there is more on new online technologies w/o the assumptions students know every online tool.
* No oral exams.

14. Other comments.
* A group project for a final would be beneficial.
* Need better Wifi / AV
* The class should be smaller for better discussions. He should encourage quieter students to participate.
* Dr. Halavais is a keeper. Good hire, Quinnipiac.
* Overall, lively class.
* Thanks!
* Teach your class from Buffalo. You know the one :).
* Good introduction to graduate.
* He is brilliant.

Course Evaluations, Fall / 2007 – Communication, Media, Society (Grad)
(For questions 1 through 10, 5=Strongly Agree.)

1. The instructor has command of the subject and presents material in an appropriate way. [4.55]

2. Makes him/herself clear, states objectives, summarizes major points, presents material in an organized manner. [4.27]

3. Is sensitive to the response of the class, encourages student participation and welcomes questions and discussions. [4.82]

4. Is available to students and responds to student questions and comments. [4.73]

5. Appears to enjoy teaching, is enthusiastic about the subject, makes the course interesting. [4.64]

6. Grading of exams and assignments is fair. [4.00]

7. The books/materials are appropriate. [3.91]

8. The instructor is well qualified to teach this course. [4.73]

9. I have gained valuable knowledge and/or skills from this course. [4.09]

10. I would recommend this course to others. [4.09]

11. Comment on the value of what you have learned in this class.
* Got a great deal of theory
* I fell the class is too structured / relied on the texts. I feel more hands on participation is necessary, ex: debates / involved discussions.
* Made me think about effect of communications on society.
* The class has been very valuable.
* Important for this field.
* I think the knowledge about journalism, its development, present state and the directions of development truly important.

12. Comment on the instructor’s teaching approach and effectiveness.
* Do not like pedagogy of posting paper to wiki.
* He is well knowledgable to teach the class, and explains material effectively, I just think the structure of the class needs work.
* Very informative and a [???] of knowledge.
* Very laid back—he made it easy to learn and contribute.
* Very effective but drawn out sometimes.
* He’s very enthusiastic about the subject.
* Teacher encourages discussion.
* Good discussion skills.
* He is a gifted professor. He loves it and enjoys [?]. He has been EXCELLENT.

13. How might this course be improved?
* Less work on wiki. Less reading.
* More hands-on involvement.
* Don’t get course confused with other courses he teaches.
* More interaction.
* Better selection of some of the readings.
* Clearer goals.
* I think there should be a single book in the course.

14. Other comments.
* Overall liked class discussions.
* He is a nice [???]