Student comments from EPID600 Summer 2013
(in order by date submitted -
click here for random order)
(About student comments)
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3:
“I was told by a student who took this course two years or so
that this module is terribly tough. I therefore approached
it with alot fear. Although the module is not easy, I appreciate
the manner in which it is handled. Vic (and the TAs) is very
encouraging, assuring that the course is doable and that the
aim is for us to learn from it. I think your grading system
is also excellent especially by recognizing the students efforts
as well in your marking.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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4:
“So much work!!!! Learning lots but VERY VERY QUICK PACED!”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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5:
“Course is designed very well to meet demand of working students
as well as to help them learn in a effective way. Very well
informed and organized.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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6:
“The class is very structured which I enjoy because I know exactly
what to expect. I really like the small groups because given
that this is an online class, it's tough to feel engaged at
all since you do much of the work on your own (readings, questions).
The small group helps me to understand the material better
so I think that is one of the strengths of this class.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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8:
“So far (knock wood), it hasn't been as scary as I'd feared.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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9:
“I find the course material to be interesting, however a lot
of the material I do not find to be intuitive (particularly
the calculations) and it is been quite time consuming to work
through the material. In particular I have spent many hours
(in the ball park of 6-10) working through the case studies
each week so far.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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10:
“I find the class to be very interesting and enjoyable. / It
is voluminous and fast paced, especially when you have to balance
against work and home front.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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11:
“It feels somewhat disconnected. The book readings and online
meeting don't really help with the case studies and I feel
like it is two separate courses sometimes”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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13:
“Came into this very excited because I enjoy the subject material
immensely. Instead what I had been focused on is stressing
out every week about the unreasonably vague and confusing questions
on our weekly quizes. THe questions have nothing to do with
whether you read and understood the concepts. And the grading
doesn't reflect understanding of the material. It has left
me immensely frustrated and disheartened by the course.Since
these quizes are such as large portion of the grade. In my
past experience in undergrad and grad school, when quizes have
extremely poor performance by students these questions are
reevaluated. Some of the quiz questions had 50% or more of
students getting them wrong. I think in these cases it is clear
that either it is a poor question or the students in the class
have not understood th material as it was not adequately taught.
But instead the answers and concepts are reviewed AFTER we
have already completed the quiz! This doesn't help to improve
our quiz grades!!”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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15:
“Some of the questions on these case studies are not worded
in the best way when working through them as part of an online
course. They need to be clearer so that there is enough time
to answer the question as opposed to spending too much time
trying to decipher what is being asked or waiting for a response
from an email.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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16:
“The calculations are confusing for me but I do enjoy the information
and reading.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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______________________________
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17:
“I really enjoyed the mock investigation assignment. Thank you!”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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18:
“I am absolutely fascinated by the material, so much so that
I wish I had learned about it earlier in my career! However,
this summer version of the course is kicking my butt! I am
spending at least 10 hours, if not more, on the class and am
totally drained by the end of the week (especially when the
modules were not posted until the last minute and I could not
prepare over the weekend). Thanks for all you do, though. Overall
the presentation is smooth and I am loving all the various
resources contained within each module.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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19:
“The course has been a great experience so far and I am amazed
at all the things I've already learned through this course.
The structure of the course is very helpful in bringing together
concepts and it all makes sense when you apply those concepts
to the case studies and finally take a quiz to realize how
much you've learned! The course is more than just readings
and assignments; it builds a thought process in you that helps
you make connections that are helpful as a student now and
as an epidemiologist later.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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21:
“The 15 minutes time allotment is not enough for the quiz.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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22:
“Quiz questions are a little frustrating at times, but overall
seem approriate.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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23:
“I think the discussion forum requirement is a bit awkward and
inconvenient because the course moves so rapidly, it's difficult
to have time to discuss the case study answers before the due
date. For example, I usually learn the material and do the
reading M-W, do the case study questions on Thursday, take
the quiz on Friday or Saturday and then take a break on Sunday.
Doesn't seem there's time to finish the readings faster.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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24:
“I enjoy the content we are learning, but the format isn't working
well; for instance, the past two optional lectures have covered
quiz and case study content from the previous lesson, rather
than learning content for the current lesson. We end up being
quizzed on concepts that we aren't sure we understand, and
the TA doesn't always respond in a timely manner so even when
we try to clarify prior to a quiz it doesn't always happen.
The questions on the quiz are somewhat difficult to interpret,
and I know from discussing with my classmates that I am not
the only one who feels this way. Also, spending the first 10
minutes of lecture trying to figure out the tech is taking
up significant amounts of the limited time we have to cover
concepts.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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25:
“This subject matter is the reason I pursued my MPH. I find
it both challenging and enlightening--everything I thought
it would be... / / ...David”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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28:
“Although I thought it would be boring detailed number crunching,
I'm finding it to be interested and engaging.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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______________________________
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29:
“The case study questions seem too difficult and advanced for
students to get appropriate practice in these basic course
concepts. More practice set problems at an introductory level
would be more beneficial. Also, instructor told students that
case study answers would be made available by noon each Friday
and that has not happened. Having access to answers, and time
to discuss those answers with TAs, would help students to be
better prepared for weekly quiz.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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30:
“Knowledge and practical rich course especially for non-clinical
students like me”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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34:
“I do love epidemiology but still trying to have my grades reflect
that.I think Vic is the most involved and commited Proffessor
ever! / I do appreciate the class format especially the teaching
team's way of making sure we do not miss any matreials (recordings,
supplemental material,e-mail, etc).Most mondays I'm always
in LA caught up in traffic but there sure is always a way to
catch up. / A very well organized teaching format. /”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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35:
“It's very difficult - the structure makes it much harder than
the average class. I feel like the lecture is extremely broad
and doesn't really give us the tools to answer all of the questions
on the quizzes, regardless of how much studying I have done
in preparation. The case studies are generally okay, but there
are still some issues.”
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(TAeval1,
Classroom course,
)
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(An additional 10 comments were received but the students did not
authorize their dissemination.)
2013b,
compiled 6/20/2013 |