Student comments from EPID160 Spring 2005

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“The class and contents are well organized and good enough to understand the basic epidemiology.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“I think the lab sessions are going well but I am having a difficult time with the evaluations as I feel like I have not really had enough time to know people well enough to evaluate them fairly. I really am just starting to put faces with names”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“Great class - very engaging and interesting!”
Douglas, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/02/21)
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“I've enjoyed the discussion sections so far. It seems like we have an interesting group of people with unique perspectives.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“Amanda is great at leading our recitation. She explains everything very clearly.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/15)
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“I think the descriptions for ratings is reversed for the category 5 - Supporting the other members of the group by listening to and valuing the opinions of others. To me, what you describe as a 4 should be a 5 and what you describe as a 5 should be a 4.”
Michael, MPH student, HPAA,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/03/03)
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“The group is fun and works well together. I like the small setting and I feel fairly comfortable participating in my group.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/19)
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“It is a group of bright students. There is a lot of sharing of information in the lab. Questions are asked without hesitation and are answered well. Everybody is ready to help each other to improve each other's understanding.”
(Classroom course, 2005/03/02)
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“I loved this class. Very helpful.”
Suleiman, MPH student, HPAA,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/02/23)
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“I like this group format. It's a great way for me to get to know the material better because I have to articulate the way I've processed the case study and the corresponding questions. I also love learning from other students who come from a variety of cultural and occupational and academic backgrounds!”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/16)
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“I think the class is going very well so far. The class is well organized and has lots of information. I really like that there are lots of other resources we can take advatange of, like the website. It is, however, a little difficult to judge peple so early in the semester.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/15)
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“Maureen does an excellent job of making sure our section understands the material. The powerpoint slides (in lecture and TA sessions) are really beneficial. Class discussions are awesome...there is no other way to put it. I've learned so much in 5 weeks!”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/16)
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“Vic and Maureen - I really enjoy learning from the two of you and have a new love for epidemiology I never knew existed!”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/16)
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“I really enjoy EPID 160. Vic makes each lecture exciting, and manages to transform a lecture hall class into a personable experience. Maureen, the TA, is very knowledgeable and clarifies all tedious formulas and concepts. The instructors make the complex field of epidemiology an approachable discipline by all.”
Abby, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: Maureen), (Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“I really enjoy having a class where we actively discuss the material and its wider implications.”
Lauren, BSBI student, BIOB,  (TA: Maureen), (Classroom course, 2005/02/22)
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“I"m not sure how we're suppose to answer question #1 about attendance when we don't know if an absence is compelling and if the person has given advanced notice or not.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/14)
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“Every person in my group contributes to the discussions and has been prepared with appropriate comments. Attendance may be the only difference in anyone's performance thus far but as I haven't been keeping attendence well noted in my head it is hard to evaluate using that criteria.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“Every person in my group contributes to the discussions and has been prepared with appropriate comments. Attendance may be the only difference in anyone's performance thus far but as I haven't been keeping attendence well noted in my head it is hard to evaluate using that criteria.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“Perhaps when there is a test assigned, we can have one week off from lab, so that we can focus all of our attention on that test, especially since the tests take a considerable amount of time.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/18)
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“I like the class, but I think 3 hours at the end of the day is not conducive to learning. I guess I just think the class should be offered earlier in the day since some people go straight through on Tuesdays. (I now wish I had switched to a Wednesday group, because I don't feel at my best, especially in lab.)”
Emily, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: May), (Classroom course, 2005/02/21)
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“Great Course and alot of help from the TA in my group. She is always providing the leadership and guidance and helping the group further undersatand the material. I would like to see more classes like the this. The many analogies by the course instructor is a good way of making the class more lively and homely. Many thanks Vic.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/22)
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“The group dynamics that the teams create are new to me. I see find that ours has worked its way through the roughness of early acquaintance to something quite valuable.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/17)
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“I really like my small group and the group discussion format. The fact that there are so many students from different backgrounds and disciplines really contributes to my understanding of the material.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“I really like the small group format and my group especially. The questions are challenging, but having a group discussion about them really increases the depth of my understanding of epi.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/22)
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“I think the small groups greatly contribute to my understanding of the material and I think they are very important. I would also like to have more discussion based on lecture topics (if time permitted!) within our large group time because I would like to hear what the other group's members have to say.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/21)
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“Perhaps pictures would help, at least for the first evaluation. The one's that are proactive are not the problem... but the one's that don't speak much are not visible.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/20)
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“I think everyone in our group contributes to the degree they are comfortable. Those who can offer insights willing do so - usually to the benefit of the group.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/13)
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“EPID 160 is easily one of the most smoothly run and well thought-out courses I have taken at the UNC School of Public Health.”
Samir, MSPH student, HPAA,  (TA: Suzanne), (Classroom course, 2005/02/21)
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“Suzanne is a very good instructor -- she is well prepared and eager to help students understand the material. She also manages time well.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/22)
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“Suzanne is a very good instructor -- she is well prepared and eager to help students understand the material. She also manages time well.”
(Classroom course, 2005/02/22)
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“This is a terrific class. I never knew I could get so excited about this material, and I'm pumped about taking other EPID classes in the future! Pumped, I tell ya!”
Douglas, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/04/27)
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“Great TA!!! very prepared!!!”
(Classroom course, 2005/05/05)
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“Amanda was great at explaining all of the topics discussed in class. She was always prepared and knew a lot of information. She really cleared up a lot of stuff for me!”
Barbara, AB student, BIOA,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/04/28)
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“The course is great and I learn a lot from this. I love the way Dr. Vic prepared for the course, very good coursepack and course documents in the blackboard. ERIC notes are very helpful. However, the course is a little bit big.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“Novel grading scheme, using the web based posting for anonymous grading. Very EPI-like and scientific. I think it is probably the best attempt at giving fair and consistent grades that I've ever experienced. This has been an excellent introduction to the field of Epidemiology, and I think that Vic is a fantastic ambassador of the subject matter. I'll miss this class, it's been one of the best that I've taken in the SPH. Amanda was an excellent TA and did a very good job of consolidating the material covered in lecture and fostered an environment of learning. I felt comfortable asking questions in our section. Amanda was always receptive to questions and was a patient teacher.”
Michael, MPH student, HPAA,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/05/03)
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“our small group was fun w/great people”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“I found the final paper critique to be the most pertinent assignment because it allowed us to synthesize knowledge we were expected to gain during the semester. With respect to the structure of lab time, I think that the review time we get with our TA is extremely helpful. However, I think the time in smaller groups could be better spent doing something other than reciting our case study answers. Finally, I noticed that as the semester progressed my TA (Amanda) became more responsive to the learning needs of the students.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/24)
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“I hated this course BUT I learned a lot.”
Suleiman, MPH student, HPAA,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/05/03)
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“Great class. It was tough, but I learned a lot.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/28)
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“Overall, the small groups I think were very effective in sharing knowledge and information. Our group worked well together.”
Sandra, MSPH student, HPAA,  (TA: Amanda), (Classroom course, 2005/04/30)
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“Thanks for a great section, Maureen. I thought you did a terrific job, and I definitely appreciate all of the one-on-one help you gave me over the course of the semester. You are very knowledgeable in the field of epidemiology.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“Epi 160 is great class with an excellent design and blend of lectures, labs sessions, and even three very difficult exams. It is taught by outstanding team of instructors! Overall it is very useful! Maureen is an excellent TA and very attentive to needs of students!”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/24)
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“Thanks for a great section, Maureen. I thought you did a terrific job, and I definitely appreciate all of the one-on-one help you gave me over the course of the semester. You are very knowledgeable in the field of epidemiology.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“For the second exam, I still think there should be a curve because even though 2 weeks were granted prior to the deadline, the university and community as a whole experienced a once in a student's lifetime experience with the NCAA Championship. I know that I personally, experienced some downfalls of this on the test because after I got myself together after the first 4 questions, I did fine on the test. (so not including the first 4 questions I did great). Just something I think you should consider when determining grades...especially for the undergraduates, since we get a value grade and not just simply a P. We're trying to go on to grad school too, so we need all the help we can get!”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“I tremendously enjoyed this class. Vic - I really enjoyed your lectures, particularly your talent for interjecting humor into comprehensive lecture topics. Maureen - your labs were excellent and truly helped me nail down concepts I was having trouble with in the reading. Thank you both for being so accessible.”
Nikie, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: Maureen), (Classroom course, 2005/04/27)
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“I know we were supposed to use a grade of 5 sparingly, but I honestly feel like my group was superb and everyone deserved an A++ grade.”
(Classroom course, 2005/05/02)
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“I'm glad I took this course - it brought many of my other diverse public health classes together.”
(Classroom course, 2005/05/02)
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“I was really impressed with the last lecture; it was great to end on the "big picture" note. Thanks!”
Lauren, BSBI student, BIOB,  (TA: Maureen), (Classroom course, 2005/05/02)
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“Thanks a bunch Vic and May! I really loved your last lecture Vic.”
Emily, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: May), (Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“May was a very resourceful and tireless instructor who always went the extra mile to make our group learn and understand the concepts well-- she is well read and has a good command of her area, and is always eager to help students understand the material. It was a great opportunity to have her as my TA.”
Peter, MS student, BIOS,  (TA: May), (Classroom course, 2005/04/28)
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“Thanks, I thought the course was excellent!”
David, UNK student, INTI,  (TA: May), (Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“The small group discussion sections in this class have been a blessing. It's one of the few environments in grad school where I feel like I've gotten to know a group of people in a low stress environment where we also learn a lot. I looked forward to coming every week. Also, I thought the articles you picked for all our discussion sections and exams were very interesting and very timely. I appreciated the fact that they were all incredibly current. Not only did I gain a pretty good foundation for epi, I also got to read some interesting research. Finally, I really appreciated the article about HPV in one of the last class sessions. It was apparent that a lot of people in my lab section did not know much about this very common STI and it was kind of cool for me to be able to use my health education skills and tell people something about it.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“May - you were a great TA. I'm so glad that I was placed in your group and am very grateful for all of your help. Although I'm not the star student of Epidemiology (to say the least), I really enjoyed the course and found the material very interesting. Dr. Schoenbach, you were a very good lecturer. Thank you both.”
(Classroom course, 2005/05/03)
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“I found our TA, May Baydoun, to be amazingly kind, extremely intelligent, and sincerely concerned with our learning. Although the size of this class in general and lab sessions in particular is extremely large, at no point did I feel like just another student. May went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that we all felt comfortable and were comprehending the material. She was phenomenal!”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/28)
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“I think I lucked out on an excellent group that has gotten along well, and a group that has been challenging because everyone comes prepared and ready to share ideas. I think having small groups in the lab for this course is essential and a great learning experience. Thanks!”
(Classroom course, 2005/05/02)
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“I thought that everyone in our group was very prepared for each week. In addition, everyone was very respectful of each other and worked well together.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/27)
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“My comments are same as before. Being a non HBHE students especially an undergraduate, I sometimes feel uncomfortable because I don't always have the most insightful comments to make. It is also intimidating because mostly the HBHE students talk (some dominate) and the others listen and contribute a little if possible. I've contributed as much as I could by doing the reading and at least attempting to understand it. My silence, if I didnt understand it, may come across as not being prepared to others, and that is something that always troubles me. On another note, I have learned so much through these smaller discussions by being around HBHE students who have a little more background in the subject matter.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/25)
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“Thank you Suzanne for your in-lab lectures. I have found them to be of much help throughout the semester.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“Suzanne did a great job presenting the material and explaining concepts to our class. I learned a lot!”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/27)
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“Suzanne did a great job explaining the concepts. I thought the course was well organized, especially for as large as it was.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/29)
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“I think everyone in my group did a wonderful job in the discussion sections. It was very clear that everyone had really put their time and effort into all the assignments throughout the semester.”
(Classroom course, 2005/04/27)
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“Even though I'm not going to get the grade that I would like to get, I think that this class was incredibly helpful. I am amazed at how much energy Vic and the teaching assistants put into this course, and I greatly appreciate it. Each test or paper is based on new material, so it must involve a ton of work for you, but it makes me feel like I'm keeping up on the latest research, and being able to look at that research critically is very useful to me. Thank you for all that you put into this class!”
Rachel, MPH student, HBHE,  (TA: Suzanne), (Classroom course, 2005/04/25)
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“I really enjoyed the TA section. Suzanne was excellent - she was tough, but knew her Epi and wanted us to understand it, too. I commend her for a job that is not an easy one - she was fabulous. I did have a difficult time in the large lecture hall. I just do not learn well in that kind of environment which I why I think the small groups were great. Thank you for a good semester.”
(Classroom course, 2005/05/03)

(An additional 17 comments were received but the students did not authorize their inclusion on the webpage.)

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2005a, compiled 03/03/2005