FRS 199 Course Assessment Results of the Spring 2003 semester

Transcription

1 FRS 199 Course Assessment Results of the Spring 2003 semester Spring 2003

2 FRS 199: Course Assessment Results Spring 2003 Highlights of the Assessment Survey Results Fifteen (N=15) students in the FRS 199 course responded to an assessment survey at the end of the semester. Over 60% of the students reported that the course always included a variety of teaching methods, encouragement to work together, and productive use of class time; and several students (87%) reported that there was always the encouragement to speak in class. According to 60% of the students, the FRS 199 course significantly improved their thinking skills, decision-making skills, time management skills, and their anxiety/motivation management skills; and 73% reported that their listening skills were significantly improved. A large percentage of students (80%) found that the FRS 199 course provided an opportunity to interact with the instructor, felt that the Guest Speakers were helpful in meeting the course objectives, and that the instructor graded the class assignments in a fair way. Almost all students (93%) reported that the course syllabus gave a realistic view of the course expectations. According to the open-ended responses, nearly all students had a variety of positive responses. Many students reported that the course was meaningful in helping them understand their own learning and how to learn. Students were very impressed with the instructor s way of teaching; that is, encouragement, listening, and showing them learning strategies. All students reported that they would highly recommend this course to other students; some felt that incoming freshmen would benefit from a course like FRS 199. Very few negative responses were reported.

3 The Percentages of Student Responses in each Category (N=15) Did this course include: Rarely Occasional Mostly Always % % % % 1. A variety of teaching methods Meaningful class discussions Meaningful homework Interesting subject matter Challenging assignments Productive use of class time Encouragement to speak in class Encouragement to work together Taking this class improved my: Not-at-all Little Some Significantly Improvement % % % % Reading skills Writing skills Thinking skills Listening skills Decision-making skills Presentation skills Time Management skills Academic Anxiety/Motivation Management skills

4 The Percentages of Student Responses in each Category (N=15) To what extent: Not-at-all Little Somewhat Significantly % % % % Did this course cover topics that are important to you? Did this course contribute to your ability to succeed academically? Did the course syllabus give you a realistic view of the course expectations? Did this course meet your expectations? Did you feel that the ASM weekly reports were worthwhile? Did you feel that the class activities were useful to your learning? Did the course provide an opportunity for you to interact with the instructor? Did you feel that the Guest Speakers were helpful to you in meeting the course objectives? Did you feel that the class exams and paper assignment were challenging? Did you feel that your instructor graded you fairly in your class assignments?

5 FRS 199: Course Assessment Student Responses 1. What was the most important element of this course that promoted your learning? Combat anxiety and give learning strategies to compensate for disabilities, showing me I can control my academic learning and success. Objective exams. The note-taking and time management sections, even though most of it was prior knowledge, sometimes you need a reminder to motivate you. I have had a hard time with motivation, this class has helped me figure out how to stay motivated. Time management skills and strategies to help improve my learning. When we discussed reading habits and ways to improve. Time management and stress. Motivation. This is my flaw in life not just school, it was good to learn more about it. I thought the test-taking strategies were the most important thing for me because I am not the best test-taker in the world and the strategies were simple and effective in my performance. Self-talk, stress management. I m not stressed anymore. The small class size and activities. The instructors were very motivational and optimistic. I never felt discouraged about anything while talking to them. They were also always willing to help. The whole course gave me a different look at the college learning environment and offered me key information on how to be the A student that I try to be. The way ideas were taught and presented were extremely well thought out and it benefited all types of learners. Analyzing my courses and my progress in my courses helped a lot. I never forgot what was going on and I never skipped a class or assignment because I didn t want to admit I did that in the learning log. 2. What aspects of the course environment hindered your learning? The MLA paper at first was difficult because I had been out of school for 20 years and the style I had initially used for my paper was the old style (I like to work ahead) so I had done the whole paper and had to restructure it in the new style but after I got thru this, I was not hindered. The ASM reports and Learning logs. None of it hindered my learning.

6 This class has only helped me. It did not hinder my learning one bit. None. Off the top of my head, I m not really sure. None. None. Nothing. Being underground! None. Some of the techniques taught I could not use to help me. Nothing. I feel that everything taught in this course was very important although some of it was a repeat of what was learned in two other courses: Choice, Changes, and Careers, and Freshmen Seminar. I don t believe that anything hindered my learning. 3. What are some of your suggestions for improving the Learning Portfolio Project? Nothing, I thought all were important learning tools for the class. It gave us different ways of understanding and processing information. Less logs, turn them into an overall thing, a quick paper saying where you are at the beginning of a semester to be stored and handed back at the end of the course for a paper saying where you ve gone and how far have your come. I feel that this course is well-structured. It taught me a lot, so I have no suggestions. Maybe adding a short paper (one page) that discusses everything that you have learned over the time would be helpful. None. I thought portfolios were good and helped us to attain how we have improved. I think the work in this class was good. The assignments had significant importance and the learning logo and ASM reports were a great way to express our thoughts and feelings. Portfolio was pretty complete. I really didn t have great classes for learning logs. I would say lose those, but they aren t that bad. Make this a heavier weight because it cover the whole semester and what you got out of it so I think it is the most important piece of this class. Less weight on the learning log. Give smaller tests and some quizzes instead. Small simple tasks are likely to be left undone because they are so ridiculously easy. There should be more activities to do while we are not in class. I think it would be good if it went deeper into self-assessment so it would help students truly understand where they were going wrong in order for

7 them to fix it. I think the written final portfolio was difficult because it almost felt I was regurgitating everything I learned and wrote about in the learning logs, I think that if the questions were narrower or more specific it would be better. I think that at one point in the course, students should have done a group project where something must be created/presented but they must meet outside of the classroom, this is a valuable skill many students cannot face. 4. What did your instructor do especially well to help you learn? In every area, provided a multimedia approach to learning. I wish all classes would offer this as it improves the ability to understand and process and facilitate learning. Makes less of a struggle to someone with disabilities. She always gave encouragement and told us that we all have great potential. Also she never forced her learning ideas on us, but gave us alternative learning strategies. She made me believe that I can succeed and show showed me how! She connected with us, answered all of our questions, and related herself in discussions. She told us this class was all about us and how we learn and she showed us way to improve the areas we needed too. Encouraged. Encouraged communication, very eager to have out-of-class communication for issues and progress. She went over things thoroughly, taught meaningful lessons, thing that I could actually do to improve my other classes. The classes were never boring and the information was presented in interesting ways. Treated us like human beings, not children. Put us all up on her level. Did not talk at us, or down to us, but with us. Made us apply what we learned soon after we learned it. Always listened to what we had to say and always had an answer. The instructor put her whole heart and soul into seeing all of us succeed. She reached out to us, which I have never had a college professor do for me. She provided extra help for me in other classes as well in her own personal time. She did an excellent job reaching out to all students and helping them to achieve their goals. She involved my other classes and worked them into this course which helped me out all around.

8 5. What could your instructor do differently that would enhance your learning experiences in the course? Nothing! I thought she was wonderful, was very available for needed help. Her delivery was interesting/not boring and she appealed to all learners, visual, auditory, kinetic, left-brained and right, fantastic teacher. Anymore like her out there? Less lecture, more peer-to-peer work. Nothing. Not really sure, there is a lot of information that needs to be taken in. Maybe have students get more involved instead of having lectures that questions some activities. Class time we maybe could have more group work activities but overall I thought it was good. More personal learning style work. None. Nothing. No idea. Offer weekly suggestions of things to do better or things to try or do in general. I don t really think anything, she reached all types of learners and saw that each one of us were challenging ourselves. Maybe less lecturing and more activities. 6. How has this course helped your become a more effective learner in your other courses? It has given me the tools to compensate for my disabilities and to get through difficult classes that had no study aids or help available. I use the lecture and reading aids provided in the class in my other classes. Taught me to sleep more, and that doing things, other than taking notes is okay to help attention focusing. It has helped me to realize how much time I will need to do my work and it has helped me manage my time better. I no longer feel lost in my classes. I am actively changing how I think about learning. Helped me to improve my time management skills. Learning about what effects my control factors. It showed me my strengths and weaknesses and has allowed me to recognize them and work on them. Yes. Just with motivation and showing me what type of learner I am. My reading, listening, and note-taking skills have greatly improved which helps in my other classes.

9 Studying strategies. Yes, but it needed an element to make me apply the concepts to the course. Many of the study strategies did work and helped me get a better grasp on the subject. The learning logs forced me to stay on top of everything, where I was going wrong in class, what I liked, it gave me a reason to focus on all aspects of learning. I think that next semester I will do learning logs on my own. I learned what I was doing wrong and how to better what I was doing right. I felt like I finally got the key to learning. I am so organized now, I did everything this semester to a schedule. I managed my responsibilities and overcome my difficulties now. 7. Would you recommend this course to other students? Why or why not? Yes, actually I think all freshmen should have this as a requirement or adult learners coming back to school. There is so much that can be gained why wouldn t anyone not want to be able to find out how they can control self-management and academics. Yes, especially to incoming freshmen to help them adjust to a college environment. Yes, because everyone could use help learning because no one is perfect. I would recommend this course to other students that are entering college for the first time or to those that need to improve their learning skills. This course was very helpful to me. Yes, good for students who procrastinate and there are many strategies we learn in this class. I would definitely recommend this course to students. I also took FRS 100 my freshman year and I found this class to be more useful. Yes, good class to assess strengths and weaknesses. Yes, especially if in academic trouble. It shows where your flaws are. Yes, because it has greatly improved my work in other classes, it is worth the time and energy put into it. Yes. Big help on the transition from high school to college. Yes, because it is motivating and could get a person back on track. I would because it is helpful to learn new ways to study. Yes, I wish I had taken course long ago. I think it should be required. It helped me to realize that I don t need to be smart to make the deans list, I just needed to understand how to learn. I think it should be a mandatory freshmen class for students with a 2.0 or lower.

10 8. Additional comments? I took this class knowing I wouldn t even be able to use it towards my degree (I already had all my electives done) and would highly recommend it. Couldn t get 3 credits for it, but it worth its weight in gold. Oh the essays! Make them stop! I feel like my hand is about to fall off. This course should be offered all of the time. I know that it can benefit many other students. This course can help save some students college careers. This was like no other course I have taken, it was very helpful to me! Overall I thought this class was very enjoyable and well organized. I loved this class and am truly grateful that I had the chance to enroll in it. This has been a huge opportunity for me, and is the best course I have ever taken in my 5 semesters. I have even transferred to Roger Williams and back, but the instructor has taught me that the power of my knowledge and learning is in my own hands. I wish I could have taken this class last semester because it helped me so much. One thing though if you re going to have two teachers, they need to both be involved. I felt like I had one teacher more involved than the other FRS 199 COURSE: Grade Statistics (N=19) Students Who Completed the Course / Breakdown of Course Grades Course Grade N % A-grades 7 37 B-grades 5 26 (Passing grades: 94%) C-grades D-grades 1 5 (Failure grades: 6%) F-grades Totals %

11 Students Who Completed the Course / Grade Point Averages Semester GPA Mean Standard Deviation Spr 03 GPA Fall 03 GPA *significant difference between semesters Accum. GPA Profile of Students: Passed Failed Did Not Complete (A-C) (D-F) (I, L, W) (N=16) (N=1) (N=2) Semester GPA Mean Mean Mean Spr 03 GPA Fall 03 GPA * * * significant difference (.05 level)

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