Midterm Evaluation 2022

Just before the Spring Break reading week, I asked students at the beginning of class to get into groups of three and come up with three comments or observations on the course and how things were going. At least one of these comments had to be positive, and one negative.

I’m interested in getting midterm feedback in part because it can help guide the second half of the semester: if necessary we can make changes or follow up on the feedback given. Based on the ensuing discussion, I have already allowed video blogs and sought suggestions for a discussion forum.

But I am also very interested in feedback because I recognize that this is an unconventional course in many ways (in terms of its structure and grading, for instance), and I am keen to know how it is seen and experienced by students themselves.

Summary

The vast majority of the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, which is great! Above all, you appreciate the freedom and flexibility (both terms that come up repeatedly) of the class structure, and the way in which you have agency, control, and responsibility for your own grade. You tell us that the grading system is both clear and straightforward.

You also mostly like the readings, and are enjoying the class discussion and interaction, which you find engaging and helpful.

Among the negative comments, there is less of a general theme. But not all of you like all the books. There is a certain amount of confusion around the website and about expectations. You are used to having due dates show up on a Canvas dashboard.

Response

At the very outset of the opening lecture, I warned that you would not necessarily always enjoy all of the texts! But I promised they would be worth reading, and my sense is that most of you agree.

One group said that “the options to choose from are limited,” but on the whole the fact that you have freedom to choose is underlined.

As for whether “the books are hard to find or get ordered”: every text is either available at the UBC bookstore, or we have provided PDF versions.

The decision to use a website rather than Canvas is deliberate. One central reason is my strong belief that universities should not keep what they do within password-protected walled gardens. I also believe that students should have much more control over their own work, which comes in part from their setting up their own blog, retaining their intellectual autonomy, and not having everything disappear at the end of the semester.

On the other hand, if there are specific ways in which the website can be better structured and clearer, I’d be very happy to receive more focussed feedback on where it can be improved.

Finally, I apologize that some video lectures have been late. This was due to a technical malfunction that I very much regret. You have, however, had the transcripts available (and in some cases, audio-only versions) in the meantime. Now that the technical problem has been fixed, I am getting back on track with recording, editing, and publishing the videos themselves.

Many thanks for the feedback, and feel free to follow up with further suggestions or comments whenever you want! I myself am very much enjoying this class, and all the work and thoughtful contributions that you all are putting in. In the end, it’s the students who make a course successful, far more than the professor.