Student comments from EPID600 Fall 2008

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“The mini-lectures are really helpful, thanks!”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/18)
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“I think all the facilitators up to this point have helped set the pace for our discussion, and group members have come prepared so that we are able to end on time, and more importantly, feel that we were able to discuss/learn new things. I don't think anyone has left feeling bad about their contributions that day.”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/19)
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“This course is going well. I really fell like I'm understanding and learning the material. The only downside to this course is the way lab is structured. By solving the questions independently and then coming together as a group to reach a consensus answer creates a inefficient use of time and learning opportunity. I say this because once people have decided upon their answer they create a mental block that hinders them from seeing another point of view. Eventually we can move past this, but I find the process tedious. I know the point of this exercise is to teach each other and learn from that experience, but I personally do not gain does not reflect the amount of time and effort put into this lab.”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/20)
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“So far, the group has been working well together, and I don't have any specific feedback to give any one person.”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/17)
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“This class is very challenging for me, but I'm also very impressed with the instructor, TAs and general format of the class. It is clear that the course has been "perfected" in terms of the use of online learning, yet you strike a good balance with the chance for in-person conversations during labs. I am working quite hard, but I genuinely feel like Vic and Leah want each of us to succeed in this course, without dumbing down the information. It's refreshing.”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/17)
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“It would be nice to have the Powerpoints for the lab sessions posted ahead of time for students who like to take notes in an electronic format as we go through the slides. Otherwise, no complaints, the class has been great. It's a pleasure to be in a class with an instructor who is so well prepared and seems to genuinely care about student learning.”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/18)
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“Love the lectures. You've gotten the slides down to an art, I think. The beginning and ending slides are always entertaining, to boot.”
(1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/20)
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“I like the "cooperative learning" method used in the class. It simulates the decision-making process groups face in real-life situations.”
Jim, PHD student, NUTR, TA: Leah (1st peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/09/16)
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“This is a little more difficult than usual because some of the discussion goes on in smaller groups before posting.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/21)
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“Dear Atu, Thanks for your constructive feedback on our discussion board, the encouragement you give to the discussion facilitators, your genuine kindness and demonstrated interest in our succeeding in this course, the promptness of your correspondence, and the significant amount of time you invest in assisting us. You're a great TA. Thanks.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/19)
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“The class content is very interesting and relevant to my job.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/21)
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“I generally think our group has great dynamics. I enjoy the fact that we are able to bounce ideas off each other, and critique each others work. I have learned a great deal from everyone and will definitely continue to do so.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/17)
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“A bit of a rough start as in any course new. Thanks to the TA and professor for helping during the rough begining. I think many/most of us have a handle of this course now. I know I do.”
Moses, MPH student, HPAX, TA: Atu (1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/19)
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“I have enjoyed both the teaching and TAing in this class, which seems to have a real culture of online presence and participation.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/19)
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“I really enjoy the internet format and feel that it works well. On the submission form, it is very difficult to adequately show your work on a word document, without using tables or any special characters. This really puts a limitation on our ability to show our calculations.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/17)
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“Thanks to Melinda for responding to emails in a timely manner so we can go about our way studying. At first, understanding the time lines and details of using Bb created many questions which she was so patient in answering.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/21)
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“I don't see much interaction with the group from our TA which might helpful if we are going seriously in the wrong direction.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/19)
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“So far, I'm enjoying the work--if not the workload (lol). I thought I already knew a lot about epidemiology. This course is clearly teaching me that I still have a lot to learn, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity to improve my knowledge and that this course does not lower its standards to the lowest common denominator (which might be me, lol).”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/13)
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“Sharon is always taking care of us, highly approachable and reachable. For one day, she did not have internet access and I was so impressed since she offered her cell phone in case we needed her. She is a great teacher and will not "just give you the answer", but actually give you tips to think about it and get it correctly or the most important detail: get the right way of analyzing and thinking about a problem/question. I am very happy with the course. I am sorry I cannot attend Vic classes due to my work, but the slides are definitely inspiring and I love the "global welcome" theme, with the greetings in several languages (well, being a foreigner myself, it feels nice). Thank you for this great opportunity!”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/15)
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“Sometimes after the 4th time of reading these notes/slides/tables my eyes become cross and I ask myself "Can I really read this again?" "I didn't get it the first four times..." It's been years since I challenged myself with a course like this.. but then I read again and behold (like what happened to me yesterday) sensitivity is different then specificity and I can explain it...”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/12)
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“The lectures and materials are very well done. I have used many of the external links as well. I am becoming more confident in evaluating the scientific literature.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/19)
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“So far I have been really impressed with how well the online group seems to work - it was a logistical challenge at first but all members have been contributing and submitting answers/comments as necessary. Having a "facilitator" assigned by the TA for each week was helpful.”
(1st peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/09/19)
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“Ginger was a truly outstanding TA.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/11/25)
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“Ginger was a fantastic TA. She was very helpful during lab by helping us work through the questions that we were struggling with. The mini-lectures were also a great resource, and the final "performance" was, well, inspiring.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/04)
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“I found this course to be very demanding overall in the case studies and especially exams. In fact, I think I managed to obtain about 70% most of the time (when I felt like I was putting in 150% effort). But I have such a greater understanding of research literature. I hope to be able to contribute these concepts when I return to the public health field. I think I have learned, the most out of any intro course I have ever taken. The instructor is just amazing in his willingness to make every resource available (lecture slides, additional exam info, questions, resources, guest speakers) Also- as hard as the exams are, they truly pull the concepts together. Great job TA's!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/11/26)
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“Overall the class was outstanding, much more than I expected. The course is sometimes hard to follow with all the assignments and information posted on BB. If I would change something it would be the proportion of the grade assigned to the case studies. They required a lot of work.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/11/26)
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“The recitation was very helpful!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/07)
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“I really lucked out with my group. They were all wonderful and am thankful to have had the chance to get to know them.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/07)
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“The course is very challenging but also very rewarding. I thought the structure of the course (case studies, take home exams, group work) was excellent and provided an optimal learning environment while at the same time spacing out the concepts and work adequately to give everyone time to grasp the concepts. In my opinion the course is a model of how epidemiology should be taught.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/11/24)
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“For me, the group discussions were the best part of this class. I would work on the case studies on my own ahead of time and then get to class where I would realize I was on the wrong track completely, but my classmates could explain it to me quickly and I understood. I almost wish there weren't any days when we didn't have class mini-lectures from Leah and group discussions, because I felt like I would've understood the material better!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/11/22)
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“Leah is an excellent TA. Her slides are clear, thorough, helpful. Her explanations always clarified problems, and she was always accessible. Leah would make a great professor! And Vic, your class slides were always interesting, if a bit confusing at times. I like how the class is structured so that there are many ways to learn the material- from the book, from lecture, from case studies and each other. Thanks for introducing me to Epidemiology!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/07)
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“The format for turning in assignments and test over the internet is extremely frustrating and cumbersome. Another way of approaching this task needs to be considered for future classes.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/01)
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“Leah, you were wonderful! Thanks for being so patient and explaining things so thoroughly.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/02)
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“The best of the SPH core classes. The professor and TAs were outstanding. Their level of preparation and committment to learning was greatly appreciated.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/06)
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“A great class for the development of critical thinking skills--you will graduate from it more adept at pinpointing weaknesses in articles of any scholastic discipline, and at reading statistics for "meaning"”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/07)
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“Outstanding course.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/11/29)
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“The class is effectively set up in order to convey the information. The information sessions before the recitation are also very beneficial to understanding epidemiology concepts.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Classroom course, 2008/12/01)
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“Overall, Group 1 was not that active. We all could have done a better job of participating. The ratings I gave to everyone were all relative to each other. The probably wouldn't be that high if this group were compared to other online groups.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/03)
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“Overall, I truly enjoyed working with everyone. It was quite challenging and an experience that I have truly learned from. Thank you to all for making this class fun.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/09)
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“It is a shame that in the end, what we have learned in this course will be reflected in a grade. I do not know how you can grade team work, feedback from discussions, courtesy, open and logical disagreement on questions. There is no way that grades capture these, but I understand there needs to be a grade even if exams will never be an adequate measurement of ones understanding of the course material. A lot of credit to the TA's, especially ours: Atu. With English as a second language, her deliberate way of speaking kept pace with allowing concepts to be absorbed. Maybe because I am local, I enjoyed her willingness to give me her time. And I hope others will take advantage of on campus meetings with TA's if their time allows.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/11/21)
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“I would very much have liked to have some discussion that was not so specific to the individual questions. In order for that to happen it would have had to have been encouraged as part of the grading (at least with the groups I was in). Also, it was clear that some of the students did the minimum because it did not count all that much towards the final grade. That was a shame.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/11/30)
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“I did the second evaluations based on the final set of discussions and not based on the overall set of discussions. Hope that was what was intended.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/03)
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“In the first few weeks, I wondered what I had gotten myself in to, but over time, concepts and the math became a bit more easy. EPID-600 is not a course for sissies!! Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to consider the questions in depth. Thanks to both Vic and Melinda for always returning emails quickly, and for the live discussions, too.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/11/30)
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“This course gave me an excellent, well-rounded and thorough introduction to and exploration of epidemiology. Although it was really intense, I came away feeling the much better for it.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/11/29)
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“Wow!! This was an exhaustingly difficult class, as I often felt I was learning a new language. Despite that, I learned a great deal and a whole new window has opened for me. Thanks!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/07)
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“I did think that the class was very difficult - by far the most difficult of the five core online classes that I took. The amount of material was quite overwhelming, which didn't allow me to deepen my understanding of the more confusing concepts that were presented. I felt that the pace of the class was unrelenting, so that those of us who were struggling were being left in the dust. My TA (Sharon) was very willing to help, but there was very little time before the next item(s) were due.

It is discouraging to take a class that I feel is vital to the depth of understanding that I wish to have about my field (hopefully Health Behavior and Health Education, if I am accepted into the program), only to feel breathless at the end - as if I have finished some kind of marathon - not won it mind you, just finished. If the student isn't given enough time and attention to let the information contained in the class really sink in and become part of their public health practice, then in my opinion, the class has fallen short of its objectives.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/07)
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“This class is challenging to complete on line, as I'm sure you know. I think that quidance is the key to helping with some of these challenging concepts. Our TA was willing to help when called upon, but when there was certain struggles within the group questions, more quidance would have been helpful - like "looks like you are on the right tract" or "why don't you refocus your attention here". I know this would have helped me and given some boosts when things became challenging! Of course, by no means do I mean give the answer! This would take the fun out of learning. Thanks - all in all I learned a lot!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/11/30)
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“This is a very challenging course. I enjoyed working with the group. It was interesting to see how people interpret articles and questions differently. I found Sharon's(TA) e mail help and course postings very helpful.”
Denis, CERT student, PHCP, TA: Sharon (2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/11/30)
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“Due to a few of us changing groups (including me), I am concerned that our evaluations from the new group we were placed in will be lower. I didn't receive a reminder email about who these members were and to take that into consideration when going back over the forums. Just wanted to put that out there....thanks.”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/02)
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“In hindsight, I would have participating in more of the interactive sections of the class, the online conference call, lectures, and on campus lectures. I attended some and found them particularly interesting. Dr. Weber's presentation was excellent - don't miss it!”
(2nd peer evaluation, Internet course, 2008/12/07)

(An additional 17 comments were received but the students did not authorize their dissemination.)

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2008cd, compiled 12/10/2008