1. CIS Student Course Evaluations - Generalizations

2. Generalizations Students happiest when –syllabus clear up front, –when grading scheme clear up front, –when work is spread out evenly over the quarter –when the big picture is presented at the beginning before the details are engaged –When as much information is put on line as possible so they can refer to it throughout.

3. Generalizations Students happiest when –Real life examples incorporated in class –Expertise and passion of professor/instructor shines through –Homework reinforces classwork and instructor available to answer questions/engage with. –The laboratories are supportive of what they are learning, they get to get their hands dirty in novel ways and the laboratories are well explained. –The AHA for almost all students was some kind of demo or hands-on experience or application example.

4. Generalizations Favorite Ugrad Courses were - hands down, going away Engaged laboratory classes –Software or hardware. (DIP, Holography, CCD Lab, Electronics, etc.). –Those classes need to make sure they provide the necessary background lecture type material To cement connection between what they are “doing” and what they are “learning”.

5. Generalizations Students like the CIS instructors/faculty –Even when they have objections to the class structure/materials they almost always found the instructor (1) engaged, (2) easy to approach, (3) working hard, (4) responsive to questions. –In many cases students really feel very strongly positively about the faculty member. 5) How much did the instructor stimulate your thinking and interest in the subject? –Generally, we do okay but could do better (relative to the other questions) on this question:.

6. Laboratories Laboratories not sufficiently organized in terms of preparation/layout. Laboratory exercises could be better tuned/developed. Laboratory assistants are not sufficiently trained and engaged. Request for matlab and not just IDL

7. Lectures Biggest concern were lectures or lecture notes with errors in them. Desire for actual specific in-print textbooks as prime source. This is repeated. In classes with difficult mathematics, desire to see derivation done in real time (not by going through powerpoint). In classes with difficult concepts/math desire for more tangible examples. Some classes not sufficiently organized and prepped for by instructor.

8. Inclass and Online Concern with audio and set up in a few classes for some periods for breeze. Desire for real time derivation of formulas using the board or palette. This is very strongly heard and is the major issue presented with inclass/online. Students do not want to learn formulas/derivations from predrawn out powerpoint. Moves way too fast in that format and they don’t learn. Desire for faculty member to repeat inclass student’s question so on-line student could hear. For on-line classes where the on-line class was not taught using Breeze, there was concern from students that they weren’t really getting taught. (small number statistics here, but nevertheless).

9. Big Six for CIS 1.Improve laboratories that go with courses; *content, organization, preparation and instruction. 2.Use in-print Textbooks wherever possible, *minimize errors in notes, handouts etc.. 3.Do real time derivations and support with demo *don’t just use preset powerpoint for abstract/math *use demonstrations to drive home the concepts. 4.Prepare, review, and post syllabi *give students big picture of course material *Spread work evenly over quarter. 5.Stimulate student thinking and interest! 6.Hands on (software or hardware) courses very desirable.