A few thoughts based on a review of the feedback:
I enjoy lectures because they don't put me to sleep (or maybe it is the chemicals in the air). Science always confuses me even though I enjoy it. As a science you have to think like a scientists in class. In lecture things are kind of scattered, I don't really like reading the book it is so bland. I think the teaching challenges me, but I freeze up on the test. Too much comprehensive. I can not restudy everything and repeat the terms on a test.
I like having the on-line notes and quizzes. I really like the web site created for the class. I also don't feel the question of the day helps that much, with my knowledge and my grade.
I think maybe if we reviewed a little bit more it might be easier. I believe that it is a bit difficult, but I'm trying really hard. I think I still have trouble because I have trouble not regurgitating answers. I'm just not sure how to not do that and study in a different manner. I don't know if you have any tips toward it, but if you do, I'd like to hear them. Questions of the day are helpful because they're easy points. I'd really just like to know what is easiest to go over or what will be covered. I like the idea about a field trip. I think it would be really fun. I think your class is really pretty fair and I'm looking forward to doing the report. I don't really have a lot of problems with this class at all. I appreciate how you have time to help with labs and all.
I like the questions of the day, they reward attendance. I like how many different assessments you have each semester (tests and quizzes). I really like that you curve the class. This [the curve] makes up for how broad your tests are. The printouts with our grades and stuff are great. I like the web stuff. But ... If we will be tested on it, reminders in class to get tests in lab and check it out on the computers. Example: the web geologic time scale had notations of important info while the one from the book didn't. I guess I should have known to check out the web time scale, but I went instead with the book.
My suggestions for this are: pull material from each chapter that you feel is not as important for us to learn; have important material more clearly stated in class that you would like us to make sure that we learn; have quizzes often and try to make the questions as straight forward as possible; because everyone now knows what you feel the main topics of the chapter are and that they should be learned, these questions will be straight forward.
For questions like the Bowen's Reaction chart and the extrusive/intrusive igneous rock chart have a list of words/phrases to choose from. The list can have more than just the correct possibilities, but having it will help when the answer is one the tip of your tongue, but you just can't think of it.
I think that labs should be worth more points. Because we spend a couple of hours doing them and only get 10 points. I also think it would help a lot more if you gave us a more specific study guide for the test.
I like the fact that notes, quizzes, and grades are on the internet. That is very helpful. The only thing I have trouble with is what to study. I do not always know what to study for. Besides that I enjoy this class very much.
The good things about this class: the online notes are great, it's easier to pay attention in class when we don't have to hurry to write down the info; the curve is great, maybe it could be a little bigger. The bad things: I'm guessing no one in the class is a geology major. We aren't really interested in geology and have to take this class. So the format of the class should be more of an introduction; I'm not sure about the other students, but I can't look at a rock and automatically know what it is is. So don't expect up to on the lab final; there is way to much info on-line. Maybe you could shorten it a lot so we don't study the wrong stuff all of the time; the review sheet was ok. Maybe you could make it a lot less broad the next time; Easier tests would be great because I really have no clue what will be on it.
I really like this class all in all. I really especially like the online notes and the extra credit.
I like this class very much. A more detailed test review would help though. We need ways to help us remember difficult things like rock names.
I would like to say that I do not like Earth Sciences as a class. You have made it a little more entertaining. Thank you for giving partial credit on questions and labs in all of the assignments and quizzes given. I also like your curve. You have given our class so many points on tests and quizzes which is wonderful. I also like questions of the day. It is nice to have those extra points. On the negative side, I am worried about the lab final. I think it would be beneficial if we went over the lab final on a lab day. In other words, take one lab out of the semester and go over the minerals and rocks that will be on the test. At least please give us some of the criteria that we need to know about minerals and rocks using specific examples. As far as questions of the day go, I was wondering if you could make them extra credit points instead of an actual grade. This way we are only benefiting ourselves by doing them. Otherwise keep up the good work and I think you are a generous professor.
I think you are doing a good job teaching us. The tests are very hard, maybe a little too hard. I know you don't want multiple choice, but maybe narrow the material down so we can concentrate on fewer things and really understand it all. There is so much to know for the tests, I find myself only memorizing it, not learning it. Maybe some extra credit too?!? You really are a great teacher though.
I think this is the hardest class I have ever taken. It doesn't even compare to any of my other college classes. I feel that you know your material very well, but the way you present it to class is not the best way for understanding. It is very helpful having notes on-line, but I really think having a quiz over each section would be more helpful. The hardest thing I find in this class is preparing for a quiz or test. I would suggest a review session during class time before the day of the test. Having you actually emphasize on what will be on the test instead of going over all the material. I seriously studied for 9 hours over three days before the midterm and still did bad. If I were to have known "key" things to study instead of a vague list of 200 terms, I may have done a little better. Giving us a list was helpful, but maybe put a * next to the things that we should definitely know would make it easier to study. It is also ridiculous to have only two out of ninety people get an A. Many other teachers I know shoot for a bell curve. As to where the results of the test are majority of Cs and few Bs and Ds and even fewer As and Fs. [drawn in bell curve] I think that would make more sense. One thing that I really like is how much help you give during lab. It feels more one on one and it is easier to understand the material. The lab final is kind of a worry to me and maybe we could have a good review on what it will be like. The questions of the day are so-so. Maybe if we discussed them a little more into depth they would be easier to answer. I feel that questions are really hard and I have never heard od some of that stuff before. Sometimes I am clue less on answering it. If we went over it a little more, they would be good points to help out our grade. Last, but not least I like how you give extra credit pts. for finding your errors and also curving the quizzes and test. I feel that you are a great guy, but maybe we could make this class a little more fair for everyone. Thanks for asking for our input.
I think that when we are having quizzes, before we have them, we should get a study guide. Not one that just has 200 some terms. That doesn't help. It gave no direction at all. I do like all of the extra points we can gain like the question of the day. Maybe more extra credit can be issued.
List of the possible terms used with some of the questions. Review before quizzes. Study sheet before quizzes (like last one).
I think we should have a quiz after each section or chapter. It might be easier for us to know more details. I don't know. So far I like the class and lab. I've had teachers that test like you so I know what to expect. I really appreciate the notes on-line they help a lot. Quizzes on-line should help us get ready for the big quiz. Otherwise everything is ok. I look forward to this class.
I think the class is pretty fair. Don't change anything! Keep the study guides. Please don't have weekly quizzes.
I think the class is fine. If you study you do good. People don't read the chapters like they are supposed to so they get bad grades. Just make the tests easier, review a lot more. Tell us more about what is going to be on the test when showing us notes.
The format of the class seems to work well. The on-line notes are a nice asset. However, the on-line quizzes could be more reflective of the test and its content. The same could be said for the study guides. It would be nice if you covered the question of the day in your lecture.
I think we should have a word bank for fill in the blanks. I like that there is partial credit because that makes up for the more difficulty questions. I still think we need examples of questions on the test (study guides). I also think during lecture you could say "This will probably be a question on your test." This may help us to pick out ideas that are important. Questions of the day I think are helpful, but you need to throw in the answer somewhere in lecture. I don't like copied pictures on the test because I can never tell what it is showing. Please give us a really good study guide for our lab final because I am worried about what exactly I need to know.
I like the way things are! I think that it's very nice of you to put notes, quizzes, etc. on-line. I think you're great to always curve tests and quizzes. It's also nice of you to always be willing to meet with people when they need to. I like questions of the day when we can discuss them in class so I get a real understanding of what the question is asking. I like the way things are!!
Mr. Stimac, in my personal opinion, I really enjoy your class and the way it is taught. The online notes are great because it allows us to pay more attention in class and we don't have to write as much. I like the way we do the quizzes, but sometimes there is too much information to study. i think we should have the weekly quizzes like you were saying. That way there wouldn't be as much information covered. I also like how the labs are structured, and the things we do in lab.
I like the on-line notes and quizzes - they seem to help a lot. Questions of the day were challenging and really made me think in depth, however, i think that instead of just one question you should make it a three point quiz.. The quiz should have possible test questions or similar ones. Have one of these every lecture class. Make a study guide either on-line or pass it out during class. Tell us specifically what we should know for the exam.
I find this class very interesting and I like the format of the class. Even though the quizzes and tests are hard and cover a lot of information I think the format of the test is good. Tests that are fill-in, short answer, etc., cause me to think harder and study harder. I am finding that I am learning more and I am studying more for this class. I like that the grades are curved. One of the best things about this class is that the notes are on the web. I still take notes but I like that I have another source to turn to to answer questions that I have.
I like the online quizzes and notes. I don't like the questions of the day all that much because they bring my grade down. Overall, I think that the class is fine as it is and I really like the curve.
I would first like to start off by saying that I enjoy your class very much. I think it's great how you get to know each of your students, and who they are. I never feel like another face. You make lecture interesting and easy to listen to, and lab is the highlight of my week. I think "Questions of the Day" are a good idea, and a good way to encourage me to go to class. Notes and quizzes online are very helpful. But I would like you to go over and point out certain things we should go over closely. I also would never again like to see a study guide of 200 words with only two days to the test. It killed me. I understand we are not supposed to know what's on a test, but I really don't have a clue to what you want me to study on the test (and test are not my piece of pie). I also think it would be a good idea to start having weekly quizzes instead of one big quiz covering anything and everything. The quizzes are what's killing me in this class. I like the class a lot , I just don't like all the little things we focus on instead of one main subject. I hope my suggestions help. You are a great teacher.
Keep question of the day. Keep test formats the same. If you say you're going to put a particular subject on a test or quiz, try to keep it there.
Mr. Stimac, I l believe that the class is very good. Your teaching is excellent and right. I wish you could be a little more elaborate on your study guides. Just telling us to know Bowen's Reaction Series doesn't cut it. That question can be answered too many ways (e.g., content, context, specific examples). Other than that the class is successful. The tests make us think and comprehend, the labs are easy, but nor worth a lot of points. I like the class the way it is set up. Good job teaching.
The quizzes and test aren't very consistent in type of material but curve makes up for that. I like the idea of smaller more often quizzes. I like questions of the day.
I enjoy this class and your method of teaching. Your grading system and expectations of us are fair. I like that you know a lot of the student's names. For me it makes things seem personal and direct. It shows that you care for individual student's grades and not for a class average. I do suggest, however, that an optional study session for last minute questions, with more clarity to the test's content, be held a day or two prior to the test.
Mr. Stimac - I think that your in class discussions are good. Things to improve the class: have an assignment or paper due before each quiz and test, for extra credit on the quiz or test. Make it optional. Don't count off for spelling. We need to worry about science, not English. On midterm or final give an exact study guide (less words). Words for sure on tests.
Mr. Stimac, I believe you are a great teacher. You are always there for your students. You just need to encourage them a little bit more to come in and see you to get help. The students sit there and complain, but how many of them come in and see you for help? When giving out a study guide it should be simpler. You should ask questions and give diagrams on them. Before a test or quiz you could maybe have a study group where students could ask any question. You have helped me very much this semester. You understand what I was going through and so you helped me. Only if all of the other students knew that.
The lecture notes on the internet are great. U of I has so many professors that do that and I really like it. I think you should explain things more in class though, instead of saying "don't worry it's on the internet." You are a good teacher and I think the way you teach is great. Many students also understand what you're saying about quizzes also.
I really enjoy, so far :) my first geology class. It's all extremely new concepts and information so I have noticed i must study extremely hard. To be extremely honest I enjoy your teaching style for the most part. None of my other college professors really care what the students have to say about the class, neither do they care. But to sum up some suggestion for the course - the first point would be the test format - it's difficult! To have short answer section tests is perfectly fine, but it is extremely hard for comprehensive midterms and finals. Perhaps you could mix up format to see if just maybe short answers would be more beneficial. Speaking on my behalf when test times comes, i know the general idea but to have a few options I would probably perform much better - it triggers my memory. Perhaps we could try a multiple choice test and see how our grade compare. My likes for the class greatly outweigh my dislikes. I love the interactive our class is with grades and classroom notes on the internet. It's so helpful because sometimes in class, you move through concepts quickly and I don't fully understand. But, then I have your notes as a reference from your web page. I also applaud how helpful you are in lab. Science has never been my strong subject, but you are very patient with all of us and help us understand when we ask. But I think I speak on behalf of our class when I say thank you! for you patience, and of course, the curves :) !
To John Stimac - I enjoy many things about your class. First, I like the hands-on lab time where we actually get to work out problems with you to help us along. I feel this could be carried on more to the lecture to make it more interactive with the students. If one thing would make class easier to follow, it would be to make the major topics more obvious and straight forward. Notify the students ahead of time and try not to make the quizzes seem like they are trying to trick the students or find minute details that they hadn't studied. There are certain things in each chapter that are important, and others that are simply material that shouldn't be expected to learn. Please take this into account when lecturing and outlining the chapters to the class. Thank you.
I like: on-line notes, on-line quizzes, questions of the day, no multiple choice, labs. I think you do a great job of presenting your material. You give us all the advantages. But if you say you are going to test on something test on it. If you want us to know something specific be specific about it. I like you manner of presenting material in class. I would like to have weekly quizzes on the material given in class.
I like the online notes and quizzes - they're both very helpful. However, I think that a review sheet given more in advance and a narrower list. For instance, on the last study guide you gave 30 terms for one question on the midterm. The point of a study guide is to narrow down the curriculum so the student is not swamped. The last study guide didn't help at all; it basically just listed everything we have been over, which narrows down nothing.
I really enjoy our geology class. It is challenging, but with hard work you can get a good grade. I like the course as it is os if nothing is changed I will be satisfied. I will, however, make some suggestions and comments. I like the "questions of the day"; it is an easy way to get points and it awards good attendance. It helps a lot when you set us on the right track for the more difficult ones. I love having the web site. Being able to follow and check your grade is very convenient. Also having the opportunity to print the notes off the web before class makes it easier to pay attention to the lecture and follow the diagrams. The lectures are interesting and more enjoyable wen you don't have to rush to get all the notes down. I like having the study guide, but it would be more useful if given further in advance. This way if students have questions on material from the study guide they can ask before the day of the test. When you stress important topics it helps us know where to focus our studying. A review session would also be helpful if possible. Having a word bank for chart questions or any questions is an excellent idea for test and quizzes. The curve is definitely a good idea, not to be changed. Taking the extra time to make each student a midterm evaluation and help us in lab doesn't go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated.
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Stimac
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Revised 10/26/99
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