Student comments from EPID600 Summer 2013

(in random order - click here for date order)

(About student comments)

______________________________

16: “The calculations are confusing for me but I do enjoy the information and reading.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

22: “Quiz questions are a little frustrating at times, but overall seem approriate.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

21: “The 15 minutes time allotment is not enough for the quiz.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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!!”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

17: “I really enjoyed the mock investigation assignment. Thank you!”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

8: “So far (knock wood), it hasn't been as scary as I'd feared.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

4: “So much work!!!! Learning lots but VERY VERY QUICK PACED!”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

30: “Knowledge and practical rich course especially for non-clinical students like me”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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. /”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

28: “Although I thought it would be boring detailed number crunching, I'm finding it to be interested and engaging.”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

12: “Great course!”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.
______________________________

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”
(TAeval1, Classroom course, )
Order by date submitted.

(An additional 10 comments were received but the students did not authorize their dissemination.)

Back to top Information for students EPID600 home page

2013b, compiled 6/20/2013