What works/what doesn’t work Anth2600 B (October 2001) Hülya Demirdirek
Best/Worst
What is working?
Class discussion, except this doesn’t always
work cause the readings are not completely;
group work on selected topics
The group discussions where we broke off into
little groups to discuss what we were learning
from the readings. It’s not as intimidating to talk
in front of about 4 people instead of the whole
class.
The lectures and some discussion.
The teacher-student interactions work. Trying to
get us to participate works. Group work also
elevates into good discussions about the topic we
are learning,
Group work (given that readings are done).
Overhead and lectures from teacher so students
can make actual notes. Giving examples - this
helps students make connections.
Today - for the first time I have had a taste of
your expertise in these matters!
Overheads outlining aspects from the articles.
Lectures on articles with added personal
experiences make it interesting.
What isn’t working?
Best
The selected readings are well chosen, but too
many in number. The text for this course is large
and I know I will have to rely on some notes
cause I will not be able to read all the required
readings. Personally, I don’t find much interest
in the readings - but that may be my fault in
course selection, not the class itself. I wish I had
a suggestion of how to motivate students to
read...maybe a different text book!
Getting frustrated with us when we don’t
participate, because we are frustrated too and
some people don’t talk because they’re shy and
they won’t talk no matter what you say so it’s
just frustrating for us as well.
I don’t know - I’m listening
This class incorporates individual thought and
opinion. And you are fun to watch and listen to.
Some of the discussion is surprising and
interesting.
Assigning certain people to read. Some of the
articles are harder to understand, so if the entire
class even made an attempt to read the article it
would make for better discussions than from 3
assigned students.
Instructor getting flustered because no one in
class answers her. Not reading the essays or
reading. Vagueness of class structure. Stopping
lectures to ask us what works or doesn’t work.
Trying to drag participation out of people.
The class is long but we can’t change this, it’s
just how it is.
Worst
Your personality. You’re a really sweet lady and The readings are really long and hard to
you try really hard to make us happy.
understand. I know we need something to learn
from but I don’t read them because I get too
frustrated with them.
I like your input. Tell us what to read for next
class. I am always behind an article for some
reason. Tell us your agenda for next class.
The best part of this class is being able to listen
to other students ideas and thoughts and not just
judge what they say. Everyone has an opinion,
and everyone including the professor respects
that.
Instructor enthusiasm, knowledge of topics, and
personality.
There is nothing that is bad.
Your sense of humor and nature in general.
The time of day - this is my last class (3 in a row
- no break).
I like this class. It was me that was getting
sleepy, and it has nothing to do with this class
but rather that I work full-time and attend school
full-time and I hade a presentation today so I was
nervous and didn’t sleep well. My apologies.
Personal anecdotes that you provide are
interesting. Overheads on the net.
Is to come to class, not really understanding what
the article is about, and having the professor try
to pressure some questions and answer session.
The material needs to be clarified first, then we
can discuss and comment.
READINGS! - hard to understand, not in order,
LONG readings - too many words that are not in
my vocabulary.
I like taking notes because I can learn it while
I’m writing them and at home if I didn’t
understand it in class.
Overheads work/summary of articles really helps
me/movies
The overheads help a bit. Sometimes I hate
trying to figure out the main points from the
articles. Some are worse than reading art history
articles.
Energy you have and effort. On track of outline.
Topics are interesting.
The overheads. By using overheads I can
understand things about the article that weren’t
clear when I was reading it. They also help me
understand what you are saying because
sometimes I can’t understand you. Having the
words to look at visually is very helpful to me.
Summary of articles that are read. Discussion in
class with feedback from other students and
input from the teacher.
Overheads in the class are good. They help a lot.
Have overheads for every article and make them
available online.
I don’t like group work because I am shy and I
don’t really learn much. Group work can also
get off topic very easily.
class discussion that goes no where. Having to
constantly participate and not have lectures. A
lot of confusion in the class because of lack of
structure. Forced to read. I get incredibly bored
in this class because discussions get me really
confused. Lack of clarity about
articles/exams/papers. Fact that there is no base
to go from - no theories to start with.
Sometimes I feel I am teaching myself from the
overheads. I wish they were detailed or went
further into the key points. I am constantly
looking up words in the dictionary.
A lot of reading
TOO MUCH READING! With our other classes
it is too much to read up to 3 stories in 2 days.
Same as what works.
Same as what doesn’t work
When you just try to explain an article without
anything visual. I get confused because I can’t
understand some of the things you are saying.
I am sitting with people who are very friendly
and they help me understand things better. And
also, that you are very considerate of us as a
class and that you are concerned about how we
feel.
When we spend the entire time or a lot of time
discussing things that do not have to do with
class content. Why we aren’t reading, how we
don’t discuss, etc. It wastes time. And TOO
much reading, for such little time.
Trying to decide how the class should be run and
ways to make students get involved. Mainly go
over material whether or not students have read
it. If students are having problems they can
come see the professor during office hours or
make an appointment. There is a schedule and it
should be followed whether students follow it, is
their problem.
All of the articles. There are way too many to
know and read.
I don’t think anything is the best.
Stop wasting class time by asking questions as to
how to have more class involvement or maybe
assign questions.
You are open to suggestions. You realize what
the class needs and try to make everyone happy.
I also like how you stay in touch with us via email. It is very easy to communicate with you.
The articles. Some of them are very boring and
difficult to read. Thaiss wasn’t bad but long
boring articles like Cornwall and Lindisfarne
make me not want to read them. If I don’t read
them I don’t want to come to class for fear of not
knowing what’s going on. This may be the
reasons for the attendance problem.
When you outline the articles and take the time
to try and help us understand the difficult ones.
The questions to think about in e-mails provide
direction when reading.
Discussing the articles does help a lot. (Talking
about their main points). Your enthusiasm is
great. It makes class interesting (also humor).
It would be great if you could have the overheads
on the Internet the day before so we could have
them to make notes on rather than trying to copy
it all down. I don’t think the assigned readings
work because the people who are responsible are
not speaking up and we all should be responsible
now since will be for the final.
I think it’s just that there is a lot of reading and
people have 4 other classes. Actually it’s not
specifically the amount of reading but it is pretty
hard to digest and that makes it a lot. It’s not
that I’m not interested, it’s just that it’s taking me
longer to read that’s all. (I have a hard time with
this kind of reading).
I don’t like individual group discussion because I
like to hear everyone’s views and opinions.
I like your examples and asking for examples
from the class.
The overheads could be more descriptive rather
than just one sentence dichotomies. Some of the
readings are boring and hard to get through and
sometimes there are a lot to read for each week.
See what works
Nothing is bad enough to be classified as worst.
Class discussion when everyone has read the
If the professor sends an e-mail saying: This
articles and is not afraid of speaking up. The
author thinks this way about something what do
professor giving examples and stories about what
you think about this issue? Maybe we could
we are talking about is good too.
have a class discussion about that.
Overheads are really helpful. I think the reason why hardly anyone has read the articles is because we have a lot of them read and we are right in the middle of mid-terms for other classes. Don’t get so
discouraged, all other classes are like this with turn out and participation of readings during this time of year. Just remember that we are paying for the education and if we don’t want to embrace the
opportunity don’t worry your self about it. You the one getting paid to educate us. Do your best and don’t try to accommodate everyone. I already talked to you about the rest of my concerns. Today was
the day I actually followed and understood.
Before I start writing I was confused to the
#1 is working, although I fear you are not
I don’t have a problem with how this class is
necessity of what we were doing here (writing
satisfied with that.
going. I think there is less verbal participation
pros and cons). Providing overheads and discuss
than you want because we may not understand
simultaneously.
the concepts clearly and do not wish to look
foolish in front of the rest of the class.
Overheads as a summary, because it makes the
I don’t think that asking a select few to read the
The option for open discussion or not (I really
Some of the articles are difficult to understand or
articles easier to understand and to talk about
articles is good, because then the rest of the class enjoy your energy in class too)!
to keep an interest in (but on the other hand some
(and the questions being asked before the articles tends to not read the articles; therefore, less
are interesting). Also, some of the questions
are read).
discussion in class.
asked are hard to comprehend (perhaps the use of
vocabulary??)
Using overheads because it facilitates my
understanding of the articles.
Trying to keep up with readings when I’m
stressed out with exams in all my other classes
this week.
Having visual aids for people who don’t learn
well from lectures without visual aids.
I think that overheads summarizing the articles
help those that read get a better understanding.
Stick with a plan. Most understand that not all
the subject matter is going to be interesting.
Do what you feel works best - we respect you
and your knowledge in this area.
Overheads and discussions - works about the
readings.
Assigned readings - people don’t do them doesn’t work.
How the class has been structured since the midterm with the outline of the article, supplemented
by discussion.
Trying to understand lectures that are
unstructured and thus, difficult to interpret.
Sometimes I don’t understand the articles I read,
and I don’t get much out of abstract, unstructured
lectures which leave me with more to interpret. I
need lectures to clarify and enhance my
understanding of the articles not cloud it.
Overheads are helpful, I wish there were more
for people who learn like I do. I usually have my
readings done, but my energy was focused on
study for mid-terms in other classes this week.
Last week the focus was on this class.
I think that it must be understood that many of us
have a heavy workload and sometimes do not
have a lot of time to do all the readings.
Your reaction to unresponsiveness! I don’t
participate verbally but still understand and enjoy
the class. Just because there is no discussion
does not mean we don’t care.
ings - get a
are notes to go
way I learn best
mation you
When we have to stop to do things like this - it is
frustrating, annoying, and wastes time.
The way you get so excited when you teach - it
really is interesting to hear the examples you
give - you give this class energy - makes it
interesting.
How sometimes
school to learn participate all of
days so please do
e readings!
It would be nice to get the notes before class so I
can write over them to supplement them during
class with what you talk about during the class.
Different teaching then the norm. I’m here to
learn and the environment in which it occurs
effects how and what you learn. To me, a
different environment is better and better
prepares me for things outside the class room
(the real world).
When you give us a funny example of something
because it is both funny and can then easily be
remembered.
You are considerate about people and try to be
helpful.
How you seemin
yourself, for wha
problems (lazine
up or believe tha
Your sense of humor.
The readings are
and hard to unde
talking about how
That people are n
ask/discussion. I
always understan
answer or someo
it. I usually have
before I talk abou
up my words.
Lack of energy/in
n understanding
before reading
ocus on.
g to class so that
The discussion because some/most of us do not
like to talk out loud.
You can’t expect everyone to be involved in the
discussions. Some people don’t like to
participate. You also can’t expect everyone to
keep up with the articles, we have other classes
and we determine what needs to get done at
certain times.
Too much reading.
cussing articles
Getting us to read the articles does not work, but
people should be reading them any way.
When you relate things from the articles to the
everyday (gossip that you have).
s class as it gets
Nobody does the readings... we can’t discuss if
nobody has read. There isn’t enough motivation
to read. Maybe if there was even a question quiz
once a week to make sure everyone reads the
articles then maybe it will give motivation for
people to read.
Having to read two or three articles before class.
This is because we (I) don’t get to finish reading
them, because it is too many, I have other class
assignments to take care of, thus if an article is
being discussed, I don’t know what’s being said,
because I did not get time to read it all.
The class - some of the articles lack direct ties to
the class (maybe I’m just missing something)
Group discussions are the best.
he exams.
Your energetic approach to the class - your
attempts to get the class to participate.
Time wasted on
this class and tim
learning.
We talk too muc
The time of day (
for the day). I th
(including me, an
class, re just simp
things).
nd being able to
something
to in today’s
ept. 11 was
ent gender roles
he media.
learly outlining
and talk about.
ticle, asking for
g the main
r asking for
uestion (short
Trying to discuss articles that are difficult to read
and understand in the first place. Relying on
anyone to read the whole and all of the articles.
Non-specific questions to try and answer half of
the time. I am not sure what is being asked or
what we are suppose to comment about.
Group discussions once they get going and notes
on articles so we better understand.
Relying on speci
expecting everyo
seem to be worki
assigned specific
reading them!
Students who don’t respond (not the professor’s
fault) or the professor asking one question and
giving up after 2 seconds.
Professor responding to student input with short
answers and asking for more feedback.
Professor not reit
them into differe
answers to stude
lost, and lose stu
and points - find
Asking peoples opinions of how you should run
the class - we’re halfway through the semester
now - just go with something.
Where we’ve gone through the articles discussed main points, etc.
All the time spen
could/couldn’t be
the readings. Pe
are.
iven before
Group discussion - reading 5 articles a week (not
gonna happen).
Mid-term (I thought it was fair) and discussion
week and video.