Course/Instructor Evaluation Spring 2002
ENGR242 001 - Microelectronic Materials - Bill Knowlton
Questions 1 through 6 below are from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree."
1 =(strongly agree)
2=(agree)
3=(neutral) 4=(disagree) 5=(strongly disagree)
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na=(not applicable)
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Mean
Section 1: About the Course
1.
Student responsibilities are clearly defined.
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8
1
0
0
1.41
2.
Assigned workload is appropriate for the number of credit hours.
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1
0
1.58
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2
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1.54
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17
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7
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0
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0
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0
1.09
1.29
1.20
3. Exams or other methods to assess my learning concentrate on important points of the
course.
Section 2: About the Instructor
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Is genuinely interested in helping me understand the subject.
Returns tests and/ or assignments in a timely manner.
Explained how I would be graded.
Section 3: Overall Ratings
Questions 7 and 8 below are rated from "excellent"(1) to "poor"(5), with comments on the next page.
7.
Overall, how would you rate the quality of this course?
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7
3
0
1
1.70
8.
Overall, how would you rate the quality of this instructor?
15
7
0
0
0
1.31
final report
7.
Overall, how would you rate the quality of this course?
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Please explain.
Bill is doing great things. His teaching style should be a model for all courese taught at the college of engineering. The channel of
understanding from him to me is exceptional.
I didn't expect to get nearly as much out of this class as I did. It has had a profound affect on my understanding of the material
world.
Focus on deriving equations rather than working them. That is something we can look up in a source book when we are in the
field. Should learn how to work numbers into equations and learn what appropiate values should be given.
The notes supplied were helpful. After taking this class my interest in material science enhanced. Taking this class after Physics
212 would help one understand better some of the chapters. It has a lot of commonality with Chem 112, which I took along with
this class.
I think I got a lot of important conceptss from this coursse, which are going to help me in the future courses and in the workplace.
The course did not go in details, which would be forgotten after a short period of time. It dwelled on important concepts.
I enjoyed this course and would recommend it to others. I'm even more interested in the field after this class.
I think that requiring this course before students take 320 is one of the next steps to improving this curriculum. Bill does a very
solid job of explaining the inner workings of materials and their energy band diagrams.
I learned many new things
I have mixed feelings about the course. I'm an ME and don't feel that this course should satisfy our materials requirement. We
really seemed to run through mechanical properties and I'm worried that I may be at a disadvantage compaired to my classmates
that took the ME focused course. I don't think this is entirely Bill's fault. Title of the course was accurate. I just don't think that I
should have been advised to take it.
I felt that the information in the textbook I purchased did not help my learning much. Much of what was tested on was found in
the lecture notes. Plus, I felt like the assignments were rather lengthy.
The instructor was well organized but the material presented and the book were not as in sync as I would have liked, not to
mention the lab. For a introductory type class it was good, but overall I did not get as much out of it as I would have liked.
The class was well taught. I came away with much information that is already proving to be very useful in my current field of
work.
Because is going to help me at lot to understand better about materials and its structure.
Great. I have have felt too often at BSU that what I was learning was worthless and I would never use it. This class was a
wonderful exception. The material was incrediably usefull, and well put togather
The material presented is valuable to all disciplines of engineering. The theories are essential in understanding practical micro and
macroscopic engineering fields. I am glad I enrolled in this course as I believe it has given me a greater understanding in areas I
knew nothing about (i.e. devices), as well as built a solid foundation for mechanical propery concepts,
The material was quite interesting! I found that I could relate two summers worth of internships at Micron to the material Dr.
Knowlton presented us. I feel that I've recieved a lot from the class.
8. Overall, how would you rate the quality of this instructor?
• see above
• Dr. Knowlton is really good at explaining the material in a straightforward way, and at inspiring enthusiasm for the subject.
• Bill Knowlton is one of the best professors I've ever had. It was clear that he wanted us to understand the material and did what it
took to do that.
• Dr. Knowlton is very caring professor. He is always ready to accomodate the concerns and questions raised by students. He is
expert of this field. His power point notes were helpful. He was able to very well take up the challenge of teaching this class full of
student with diverse needs and specializations.
• I think the instructor is one of the most professional instructors I've had. He paid attention to every single detail, and he was never
late for class nor he ever left early. He was very open to suggestions, which would improve the course, but at the same time he was
very strict on dadelines. He was very concerned about the students understanding of the concepts. It was an honor being his
students.
• He does a good job of explaining difficult concepts and answering students' questions. He is excited about his field, and I think
that helps the students get more excited about the material.
• Not only is Bill very good at explaining how this stuff works, he is open to suggestions of how he should improve his method of
teaching. I think this trait is fairly rare for people in his position. At the same time, he is pushing the students hard enough that
they learn the material.
• Dr. Knowlton is doing a great job for just recently becoming a "teacher"
• Bill is obviously concerned about his students. He is a fair test writer and grader (More than fair grader!) I still think that he needs
to work on his lecture style.
• I felt like the instructor made sure he had a good relationship with the students. This helped all students learn better. Plus he was
always willing to answer questions.
• The instructor worked to make himself available to all students to help them understand and learn the material. His class notes
were effective in helping present new materials, but more examples to apply concepts would have helped.
• The instructor made himself more than available outside of class, making any kind of questions one might have easily answered by
the instructor. He was not against slowing the pace of the class if so needed and again would spend the time needed by a student
that is having trouble with all or any concepts.
• I understand very well his leture class, I think because he explain clear his lecture class.
• Must remember that not all students educational backgrounds are the same, therefore, they may not be familiar with your
terminology if it is not in the text.
• Dr. Knowlton is one of the best professors I have studied under. His powerpoint notes are invaluable, and he really takes the time
to make sure his students understand the material.
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The fact that he had notes to hand out for us in class was an excelent idea. This way the students could concentrate on
understanding the material instead of trying to copy down notes
• Great. He is enthusiastic and articulate, eager to help students learn and succeed, an effective communicator, and intelligent (an
essential combination).
• Dr. Knowlton was very specific about everything we were supposed to learn. He was organized and explained all the main points
very well. If there was any confusion about a particular subject, his office doors were always open. I recommend Dr. Knowlton to
all my friends.
9.
Which aspects of the course/instructor did you like best?
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wants you to learn the material-tests on what you learn in class and on the homework-doesnt try to trick you
Professor Knowlton really made an effort to get us to understand what he was teaching.
Dr. Knowlton is very enthusiastic professor. Practice tests were helpful. Homework sessions were really helpful if you are prepared
to ask questions.
I liked the fact that the instructor gave a lot of weight to homework, because afterall we do spend most of our time doing
homework. I do not like courses in which you spend most of your energy doing homework and the homework does not really
count.
Bill is very conscious of giving EXAMPLES which is, to me, of utmost importance when something is first being introduced.
I liked his enthusiasm.
Very fair grader. Usually available and eager to help. Tests were fair.
I liked the printed lecture handouts and I enjoyed the relaxed environment.
I really liked that the instructor was enthusiastic about the subject matter and enjoyed teaching about concepts that intrigued him.
To me that is the ideal teacher.
Each assisgment given had a counter study group providing no excuses for those not willing to put the time and effort into learning
the materail well.
I did like the class a lot because now I understand materials structure. His hand out help me to understand better the lecture class.
Best aspect of the class is the emphasis o learning the material not on performance on an exam under arbitray circumstances.
The notes, and his strait-forward approach to the material.
powerpoint presentaion, giving us a copy of the notes is great.
The notes and lectures have been very helpful -- moreover, the discussion groups definitely increased my understanding of difficult
concepts. The test and quizes were fair and accurately reflected the important course material.
I liked the general material that was covered, combined with the teaching style of Dr. Knowlton. I'm not usually excited about
weekly quizes, but they really helped with understanding the important points of the course. I also loved the notes that Dr.
Knowlton printed for the class. I'm going to keep them for future reference.
Bill has impecable timelyness, The course was always taught from a professional yet light hearted approach. The amount of effort
that is spent by Dr. Knowlton, in making sure we understand the concepts he is presenting is not typical of this university. In
short Dr. Knowltons instruction techniques should be used as a model for every course. This is one of the first class's that i actually
feel like I learned something useful that will not soon be forgotten. I know that the understanding that has been transfered to me
will help me succeed in my future classes and work. Thanks, Bill
10.
What suggestions do you have for improving the course/instructor's performance?
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Bring in crystal models-Class participation is great but should not be mandatory
I think the course contents and instructor's method both were very enlivening and excellent.
I'm sorry I really liked the format of this course.
Bill should take up volleyball instead of kayaking because you can't drown on a volleyball court... :)
Bill needs to still work on his lecture style. Power Point is a crutch. I found it's use unengaging. Something like following the
boucing lecture ball. The structure of the notes didn't always make sence. (i.e. how a lesser point or conclusion followed the
previous point in the outline form.) I admit this a matter of personal preferance. The lecure notes are also hard to take notes
around. There are many explinations made around the notes that either have to be scribbled in somewhere or put on a seperate
paper that refers back to the notes. Sometimes I got the felling that Bill hadn't thought all the way through his lectures. I felt that
we got bogged down in the minutia of theory and math proofs. Couldn't we find a more direct way to make the same points? Was
this an ENGR course or a science course? I would have liked to see more practical application of what the heck do we do with all
this knowledge once we have it? Get rid of the quized and just give more than one midterm. Quizes are an annoying form of
enforced time managment at this level of education.
I think the assignments should be shorter. I felt like the assigned homework did not reflect what was taught in class very well.
Look at other books which might be better for this course. I thought the book was poorly written and did not effectively
contribute to learning the subject matter.
Keep on doing what your doing.
I suggest to start the semester class in order chapter (chapter 1,2,3..)
Always remember that concepts that are clear to you in retrospect, may not be clear to those seeing the information for the first
time
Nothing...Keep it up. This collage needs more instructors like Dr. Knowlton.
none.
Maybe have more than 1 test to help keep the material a little more fresh in our minds
Sometimes the homework problems from the book seemed like more busy work than useful practice. However, the problems
created by Bill were usually more conducive to learning.
I would divide the material into three tests instead of just two. One big midterm is almost like taking a final. Or, the possibility of
taking three regular tests (with the option of dropping one) and then a final seems reasonable too. As for Dr. Knowlton, the only
problem I had with him is that he always seemed to go over the time limit by about one to two minutes. It's not really that big of a
deal (because the material is so interesting), but I had a class that started five minutes after Materials was supposed to be over (and
it was located across campus in the LA building).
Just keep up the good work