Student comments from EPID600 Summer 2008

(in random order - click here for date order)

(About student comments)

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4: “Overall, we have a good team.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/09)
Order by date submitted.
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38: “Joe's Group ##9 was really a great team. The group was very respectful and EVERYONE contributed to a successful submission each week. I'm glad that I was with this nice group of people - from whom I've learned a lot!”
Rebecca, MPH student, PUBX, TA: Joe (2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/07/31)
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39: “I learned a lot in the course even though it was a little challenging. I really enjoyed this class. The instructor and TA were helpful and great. I wish everyone in this group all the best.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/07)
Order by date submitted.
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30: “Jenn is a fabulous TA... there have been many times when I would have been lost if not for her always clear and helpful guidance. She made this a great learning experience for me! Thanks Jenn!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/07/28)
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36: “I have really enjoyed this course more than I ever thought I would. However, I did feel like the lectures dabbled in minutia too much. I also would recommend the course leaders keep in mind that although epidemiology is an extremely important concept in public health, it is not the crux upon which it all hinges. Sometimes the reading and workload was a bit overwhelming.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/11)
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26: “My TA, Catherine, was fantastic. She was very helpful in spurring discussing and making sure we stayed on the right track with our postings. She always took the time to explain concepts and answer questions that we had posted in a timely manner.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/06)
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8: “Very comprehensive course. I am enjoying it so far and although it is time consuming to go over the assignments the group activity is very helpful.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/01)
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29: “Thank you Dr. Schoenbach and Catherine V. for being supportive and extremely patient. Although this was a difficult course for me, I still learned a tremendous amount. I have a new found perspective on all of the outcomes that I read about or hear about these days. EPI600 is not for the faint of heart, or those who haven't studied math in 20+ years. However, I'd do it again and recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the fundamentals of epidemiology.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/09)
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6: “With the speed at which this course is paced, this is the first real challenge to time I have experienced since I have enrolled in the Core Cert in Public Health program. The requirements actually feel like I am a full-time student and I love a challenge.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/09)
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19: “I was surprised an a little dismayed that an assignment was due on Memorial Day. I come from what you might call a "military family" - we were celebrating the return of my cousin from Iraq, where my brother has also served. My father is a Vietnam-era vet; his uncle died in WWII. I found it insensitive to the people who truly do set aside time on that day -- A FEDERAL HOLIDAY -- to honor those who have served.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/06)
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31: “Out of all of the classes I took for this course, this was one of the most accessible in regards to the instructor, TA and coursework. Thank you very much!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/08)
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24: “I really enjoyed working with my group members. They are very intellectual but willing to share their knowledge with those of us who got lost along the way.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/07/29)
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21: “This is a great course. I struggled a little with biostatistics but Epid has helped me understand its importance. I recommend it for all Public Health and Health care professionals.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/03)
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28: “I think just about everyone has had an extenuating circumstance this semester and I do not think anyone should be counted very low for not having fully participated in one discussion.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/07/29)
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25: “The groups are nice, but I think if there was a way to facilitate more ongoing discussion it would be more useful.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/07)
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22: “Setting up a specific time for live meetings as a whole or as a group would be nice. So that students can know way in advance and not the day of. This would give more people the oportunity to interact much quicker with everyone and not just a few members from the group at a time.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/08)
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15: “My remarks are based on modules 3 & 4. It's very hard to evaluate what happened in module 2 without a "record" to refer too since the discussion was done without the benefit of blackboard.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/02)
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37: “Joe is our TA. He is a nice person and was always very supportive. I would like to thank him for being so patient. All my questions and answers, especially when I was a group facilitator, were very extensive. Although he was burdened by a great amount of demanding group discussions/ students, he always helped me with my "issues" in a timely manner. I have been working for years as a medical doctor in Public Health in Brazil. This course provided me a good understanding of prevention and controlling of disease and how to promote health. Epidemiology is the tool that I can use to better evaluate health conditions allowing better use of resources. For those ones, as me, that love public health, epidemiology is not only a tool- it is "the" tool.”
Gla, CERT student, PHCP, TA: Joe (2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/08)
Order by date submitted.
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35: “The group seemed never to fully gel as a community of learners. We were hampered by changing group members and disruptions early on in blackboard. More team building early on would have enhanced the group experience.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/07)
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20: “I felt like assignments were scattered during this time between the class website and Blackboard. Not sure if anyone is to fault for that but my thought.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/05)
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32: “It was very difficult to assess individuals in our group (##5) because everyone did such a great job. I have been in groups in the past where some members were clearly active and excellent and others were just doing the minimum to get by. It was difficult to grade everyone, as this group worked really well together. I would like to say that Elyn, Lara, and Connie stand out in my mind as being some of the best group members I have worked with as they did such a good job working together every week on the group consensus papers.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/07/30)
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5: “A great course; rigorous at times, but I'm learning a great deal. Thanks,”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/10)
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43: “I didn't feel that the case studies were particularly helpful when it came to the test, however, the final paper review brought a lot of things together at the end. I lust wish the piece were easier to understand earlier in the game. I would also like to suggest that clearer discussions and notes would have been more helpful. Overall my TA and instructor were very easy to work with and that was a plus.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/07)
Order by date submitted.
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3: “EPID 600 has been great thus far. It is my first online class and I have enjoyed it very much. It does take a little while to get used to the pace and requirements of online learning, but I think I am starting to get them down and I have started enjoying the material.”
Marty, NOND student, GRSV, TA: Catherine (1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/06)
Order by date submitted.
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13: “The case studies are interesting and relevant.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/05)
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40: “I feel that more learning occurred in Epid 600 through the group work on the case studies. The exams 1 and 2 were very difficult and was reflected in the overall grades. I think the exams should eliminate the multiple choice questions and this would help the overall grades. When a question can be more subjective, learning occurs.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/07/29)
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12: “It seems many students are new to the online format and structure of courses in the program- perhaps some more clear guidelines as to participation expectations and etiquette could be laid out in the introductory lecture.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/06)
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34: “As far as evaluating our peers, I do not necessarily feel comfortable giving out numerical grades. I think that the way in which we set up the course (i.e. breaking into small groups) is going to naturally create a bias in peer grading. I think that it would be fine to ask about participation and the other questions that we can mark with a sliding scale, but as far as a numerical value, I do not feel confident assigning people numerical grades. Truly enjoyed the class...Thanks for a great semester”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/14)
Order by date submitted.
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10: “Overall, I'm very much enjoying the course. Both Vic and my TA have been EXTREMELY responsive and communicative, and I very much feel that the professors and TAs are here to support my learning.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/05/31)
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41: “I enjoyed this class. It was a headache at times because sometimes I didn't realize that I didn't understand something until it was too late. The group work was such a good learning tool for me. Without the weekly discussions and great group members who contributed to the discussion often, I would have not been as successful as I was in the class. It was also nice to see the epidemiology applied to my everyday life. I view studies differently now. I value recommendations more for I have a glimpse of the process and the environment from which it came.”
Maureen, CERT student, PHCP, TA: Leah (2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/14)
Order by date submitted.
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23: “Thus far all of the people in our group have contributed significantly to each assignment.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/03)
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2: “Great job so far”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/08)
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11: “The course forum has not been as enlightening as I had hoped. I have learned much from BB discussion groups in classes I have previously taken. This group seems to be protective of their work, but it is early in the course and there have been technical problems. Hopefully things will improve.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/02)
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1: “This course turned out to be more difficult, more educational and more enjoyable than I expected. Thanks for making this a challenging and phenomenal learning experience.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/06/01)
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27: “This was a rigorous course that required a great deal of work and thought. It provided a firm foundation for the study of epidemiology, whether academic or applied. Particularly important in the course was the work done in groups. The group studies allowed for development of interpersonal and working skills and was an incredible teaching technique as we in our group supported each other in learning and mastery of the course material. I would like to take the course a second time to further explore the topics we covered.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/13)
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44: “THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT CLASS. FOR ME I THINK I WOULD HAVE LIKED MORE INFORMATION GEARED TOWARD PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED INFORMATION IN EPIDEMIOLOGY. I AM STILL LEARNING.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/08/07)
Order by date submitted.

(An additional 8 comments were received but the students did not authorize their dissemination.)

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2008b, compiled 06/11/2008