Student feedback - comments

View statistical analysis of student/teacher assessment
2010-11 FDN107 - Next Life - 2 classes - 27 students
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • How to reference roperly. (2)
  • Des makes it sound more interesting as he knows a lot about this subject area.
  • He gives very useful feedback.
  • He really connects with us in conversations.
  • Good and effective communications.
  • he splits the class into small groups and goes to each group.
  • He gives good examples of certain topics and encourages thinking outside [the box.]
  • Providing suggestions or any mistakes which need to be improved on in every essay and reading diary. This helps me learn fast.
  • Gives good opinions and tips on what to do better.
  • Good discussions and gives me ideas about my essays.
  • Gives positive feedback.
  • Helps me with writing essays and reading diaries.
  • Explains things well and is helpful whenever we need help, however some of us are shy, so should approach us students more.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • Nothing (major). (3)
  • Group discussions go on forever. I lose concentration.
  • He leaves us to it a bit and we get off track.
  • Not being very clear on certain topics.
  • Don't know!
  • Discussion on other topics that do not directly relate.
  • Sometimes too much info.
  • Gets off topic
  • Does not set enough outside work.
  • N/A
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • More one-on-one time with students.
  • Decreasing group discussion time
  • More detailed assistance.
  • Outline what is needed to be done at the beginning of the lesson.
  • Before the essay the teacher should provide some ways to do it with the email connection.
  • Give an overview of each reading to start tutorial discussion.
  • More structured lessons with clear outline.
  • More on topic discussions.
  • Help with essays.
  • Be more specific with the topics discussed.
  • Gives us impractical (?) or methods on how we can do our assignments, as for some of us this is a new method of learning, like (illegible) essay writing &c.
Other comments
  • Des Carne has been a very good tutor and I have learned quite a bit about technology.
  • Great tutor, but doesn't provide too much help, but does give feedback on all work.
  • Overall very good and dedicated teacher always willing to help.
2010-11 EQU060 - On Track - 1 class - 16 students
Comments/Suggestions
No data available
2009-10 FDN111 - Well-being - 2 classes - 30 students (22/30 respondents)
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • Emails. (3)
  • Gives us a wide range of resources for each subject.
  • Sends email with extra readings.
  • Engages us with critical questions.
  • Relates unit to real life examples.
  • Group discussions.
  • Quality of life. How to reference.
  • Des is very enthusiastic and well-informed about his topic and I appreciate this.
  • Discusses in detail subjects and relates them to us/things we know.
  • Sits in groups and discusses with us the questions in the reader and the lecture.
  • Provides helpful resources online. Gives us different perspectives and opinions.
  • Wide knowledge about and across many subjects. Has understanding of the subject.
  • Provides good resources and material about the unit. Listens to different opinions and tries to understand different levels of student learning.
  • He gives us resources through email and through group discussion by participating in group discussions. Provides us provocative questions to trigger our thoughts.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • No comments. (2)
  • Nothing in particular. (2)
  • Too much work.
  • Constantly goes off-topic.
  • Tends to get off-topic = confusion.
  • Sometimes goes off-topic. (2)
  • Talks for too long, goes on tangents.
  • Talks too much. Rarely goes off-topic, but it does kind of help us.
  • Off-topic so can't understand what he is talking about.
  • He is a good teacher.
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • Cancel tutorial!
  • Stay on topic.
  • None.
  • Group discussions.
  • Make tutorials one hour instead of two hours. (2)
  • Be specific and not wander off topic as much.
  • Should summarize each lecture and each reading every week.
  • Gives a clear, specific explanation and things to learn in each topic.
  • He is doing a very good job and tries his best to make this unit easier. No suggestions to add.
  • Please don't tolerate immature behavior as it is distracting for other students who are here to learn.
Other comments
  • ;-)
  • None.
  • Thanks for everything.
  • Tutorials are too long. (2)
  • Make it more interesting.
  • Lectures should be shorter.
  • I hope to understand this unit in a simpler way - currently unsure of it.
2008-09 FDN106 - World Indigenous Knowledges - 1 class - 20 students (13/20 respondents)
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • Extra readings (2).
  • Enthusiasm.
  • Allows us to discuss.
  • Explains everything thoroughly.
  • Recommend extra-curricular readings not set by the unit.
  • Brings in material on the subject to add to our knowledge.
  • Emails us back in reasonable time.
  • Has good experience in anthropology.
  • Provides rapid process feedback - it is encouraging.
  • Sends emails with further information to assist.
  • Great enthusiasm provision/sharing of extra intersting readings.
  • Provides us with extra references/sources to look up.
  • Allows open discussion during sessions. Good understanding of the subject.
  • Recommends texts which are relevant but not necessarily able to be found in the library.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • Uses words I don't know.
  • He is a time waster.
  • Does not make tasks clear, mumbles.
  • Good understanding of the subject.
  • Lacks ability to direct the session.
  • Allows us to discuss for too long.
  • Does not really teach much.
  • Doesn't seem to "command"/control class.
  • Poor communication skills.
  • Disorganised classes.
  • Too soft-spoken.
  • Commanding attention from class is lacking.
  • Not prepared to explain anything.
  • Not showing any interest when we ask for help.
  • I have not learnt what I was expecting from tutorials (crtical thinking, exercises).
  • I feel the tutor is not really prepared and structured. Tutorials are not structures - confusing.
  • Could structure class more effectively.
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • Make it fun!
  • By involving more visual activities.
  • Stronger 'voice'.
  • Specific discussion for each session.
  • Organise a class plan and stick to it.
  • Stick to planned lessons.
  • Command attention.
  • Structure classes.
  • Be more involved.
  • Be knowlegeable and prepared for tutes.
  • Go through main points we read and learn each week.
  • Teach us instead of letting us discuss for too long.
  • Have better communication between tutor and lecturer - this is for both.
  • Give clear direction as to what is expected, what we should learn and how we should go about it.
  • Practical exercises in tutorials to learn how to buid essays, grammar, read and take notes, referencing...
  • Have a clear objective for each tutorial (eg. question groups to answer)...
Other comments
  • He's nice :-)
  • This unit sucks. It is criminal that it is compulsory. And yes, I'm aware this is not a survey of the unit, but I don't care.
  • Talk about assignments, exams, explain everything not just tell us to read the Reader.
  • Thank you for your assitance and very informative one-on-one conversations.
  • Need to provide more stimulating, relevant discussion topics. We do find some, and then it is great! But very rare.
  • There are some things I am not clear on reading the concepts of the readints to critical points of view.
  • I learn more from all my other units about how to learn at university. My FDN unit has confused me more - the FDN unit essay must be at the beginning of the semester. It doesn't help to hand it in in week 13 when all the others are due before or at the same time.
  • We didn't have to fill this form out for the lecturer, and we should have one for her too.
  • I feel it has been difficult to grasp what is wanted from this unit, though I feel this may stem from mis-communication our tutor and lecturer as our tutor doesn't seem to what is required of him, and what to teach us.
2008-09 FDN130 - Age of Information - 2 classes - 32 students (21/32 respondents)
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • He is competent.
  • Regular emails to let us know how we can prepare.
  • He emails us!
  • Gives us examples of his personal life that relate to topics.
  • Des Carne helps me by explaining things better as English is my second language.
  • Always turns up to class on time. (3)
  • Always marks work on time.
  • Learn to reference properly.
  • Helps me understand difficult topics.
  • Uses own experiences to demosntrate examples of theories in practice.
  • Tell us stories about his personal experiences and information related to us which helps us get a better understanding of the topic.
  • Encourages class discussion.
  • Relates issues to more than one example that the majority of students are aware of from the media/news/articles/readings/lectures.
  • Keeps in constant contact via email wiith extra notes, pointersd to extra resources, reminders on upcoming tutorial itinerary.
  • Des engages me to think beyond just the basics. He puts things in a different perspective to make me think more critically.
  • This FDN unit has been surprisingly fulfilling and interesting: each week Des is engaging and full of insight.
  • Seems to have a real interest in the topic which makes learning about information technology (a pretty dry subject to me) actually quite cool. :-)
  • His enthusiasm.
  • he has excessive knowledge about an insane amount of subjects.
  • He allows for freedom in each class.
  • Des invites us to discuss topics as a group and brings excessive knowledge from other texts to the table.
  • Des shows an abundance of enthusiasm in everything that he does.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • N/A (2)
  • Des never interferes with my learning.
  • Sometimes I don't know when things are due.
  • He marks too hard.
  • Nothing. (2)
  • Messy writing - hard to read his feedback. (2)
  • Tendency to ramble off topic.
  • No specific hindrances.
  • The class, being mostly teens straight from high school can become boisterous and off-topic.
  • Lecturer can have trouble regaining control of the class and/or getting some students to focus on the tutorial topics.
  • His vocabulary often exceeds what I can comprehend and his way of explaining some things is long-winded.
  • Des has a large knowledge of the topic and can rant for quite a while.
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • Nil.
  • He should be better prepared for the tutorials.
  • Everything is good - perhaps more on correct referencing.
  • Des is fantastic and I can't say anything bad about him.
  • Outline or suggest readings and questions to do.
  • Neaten handwriting.
  • More building on the class discussions.
  • Get grumpy! Make it well known to the class when thay go off on their own topics of conversation that you require their attention. You're the boss - don't let them/us forget it.
Other comments
  • Des is very approachable and helpful.
  • Des Carne is a fantastic teacher.
  • Tim is a lesbian.
  • I like Blue.
  • Des is extremely academic, well read, objective about a myriad of issues, understanding when external issues affect an individual student's abilityto keep up, and offers different ways of learning info so the majority of students can relate to it.
  • The only thing I feel is that 2 hours is a bit long as we always get things done in 1.5 hours, which is a good thing - but I feel that the class should be shorter.
2008-09 FDN140 - Evolution and Revolution - 2 classes - 31 students - 26/31 respondents
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • Feedback.
  • Break things down.
  • Gives work back on time.
  • Explains things clearly. Always encourages.
  • Clear and interesting debates over the topics that help to develop critical thinking.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • I feel that there needed to be more open and group discussion on lectures from the previous week and the current week, to clarify all things covered.
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • Greater contol over flow of discussion.
  • Personally I would have liked more help with referencing.
Other comments
  • A little harsh in marking.
  • I think Des is a good teacher, although I think he could perhaps talk a bit more in detail about concepts and expectations &c.
2007-08 FDN140 - Evolution and Revolution - 2 classes - 29 students (24/29 respondents)
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • Encourages us to discuss and answer questions.
  • Answers his emails so we can communicate! It's good.
  • Calm disposition, interesting anecdotes.
  • Gives suggestions of ways of approaching my learning.
  • Makes suggestions on how to improve on my poor essays.
  • Allows us time to talk in groups and share our ideas.
  • Links learning to previous lectures.
  • Tries to answer questions.
  • Stimulates open discussion.
  • Enthusiastic about the course content. (2)
  • Explains concepts.
  • Emails overviews to us every week.
  • Joins discussions with every group every week.
  • Referencing.
  • Responds quickly to email enquiries.
  • Gives clear feedback on assignments, tells you where you need to improve.
  • Has a strong understanding in skills and helps me relate my life skills to others and my work.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • Sometimes gets a little bit off topic.
  • Sometimes I feel the anecdotes go off track and lose the track of the point, to relate to what we NEED to learn.
  • Sometimes the answers to questions also seem not to answer the basic question! Tangents.
  • Goes off on random stories, confuses people.
  • Doesn't keep on the subject - things get boring - sure don't learn what we need to.
  • Need more personal time to address questions.
  • Not organised for class.
  • Don't know what to expect in class.
  • Wastes time.
  • Often goes off topic when trying to help.
  • Can sometims be confusing.
  • Does not explain things very clearly.
  • Unclear - doesn't answer questions from students properly.
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • Nothing really.
  • Give more individual responses.
  • Organise class better timewise.
  • Listen to students' questions more carefully.
  • Keep things simplified.
  • Go through quiz answers.
  • Maybe try a different approach to discussions.
  • Go over the discussion of lectures and readings that we do in groups to ensure that we have the right ideas about them.
  • Keep answers specific, and elaborate if the student asks/requires it. Saves time to cover everything required.
  • I would have liked discussion groups to be all-class inclusive. Maybe seated around the room with everyone giving their points of view. I think in a smaller class size this could work to advantage.
  • More help with theory work - essays etc.
  • Keep on track with the subject.
  • Try and make things a bit more interactive, so different groups can share their ideas with other groups.
Other comments
  • :-)
  • I feel students sometimes "hijack" the lesson, meaning not all topics get covered.
  • May need to be a bit more assertive to keep students on track.
2006-07 FDN140 - Evolution and Revolution - 1 class - 14 students (6/14 respondents)
Comments/Suggestions
1 or 2 things teacher does to help me learn in the unit.
  • Encourages discussion to hear others' views and opinions
  • Explains things well to help us understand.
  • Encourages small group discussions on rlevant topics.
  • When he joins in on discussions about the readings I find his ideas and opinions very helpful and they put me on the right learning track.
  • I find he feedback on assignments helpful, so i can improve.
  • Good at providing a balanced outlook on topics by incorporating ideas from other areas of learning as well.
  • Well organised tutorial groups with group discussions to share ideas and clarify antything which I'm having difficulty with.
  • He involves the whole class in discussions about the unit.
  • Constructive criticism and relevant positive feedback to work handed in.
1 or 2 things teacher does that hinder my learning in the unit.
  • Nothing really. (3)
  • He is very helpful and full of knowledge which is so interesting to hear.
  • Allows group discussions to become "side-tracked", so that discussions can become irrelevant to the topic.
  • We sometimes get so entrailed in a discussion we get off the track - not his fault though I guess.
  • He lets us get off track easy.
1 or 2 practical suggestions on how to help improve my learning in the unit.
  • None.
  • I don't have any suggestions.
  • Not to let us chat and chat and chat.
  • Be more specific on feedback from assignments and tasks so that I am more clear on how to improve my performance.
Other comments
  • I am enjoying these tutes and siscussions - they are interesting and encouraging. :-)
  • Des is a very kind and helpful person.
  • I feel very confident in this tute.
  • Des has helped me understand a majority of this unit, and also about life.
  • Send us a copy of the book when it is finished!
2006-07 Conversational Spanish - 2 classes - 20 students
Comments/Suggestions
No data available
2006-07 Internet Skills for Seniors - 1 class - 10 students
Comments/Suggestions
No data available