Course evaluation 2010

The following is a summary of the course evaluations held in early November. This is not the official course evaluation (multiple-choice questions); I will only get those results in March, 2011.

Here is a copy of the evaluation form you filled in. [LINK]

• 55 evaluations were returned (class size in 99 students)
  • Thanks for the very large number of comments and your time to give me feedback
• Average time spent of this course outside the class was 5 hours \(\pm\) 2.25 hours
  • The variation around the average was quite high: most students spend extra time on assignments that require coding.
• 76% of the class bought/borrowed the course textbook, while 30% of the class use the course textbook at least once per week
  • Many in the class rated the book as not being useful
• Extra required for the midterm was on average 25 minutes \(\pm\) 17 minutes (1 standard deviation)
  • This large range of variation is expected; many students felt the time was adequate; but also many students felt they need over 45 minutes extra. I will use this to help set the final exam.

• 48% of the class wanted to use Python, but the actual rate of Python usage is about 18% of the class.
  • Most students stated their preference for MATLAB was because they had already learned it; but many stated they would switch to Python if they got extra grades for that. Remember though: the main reason for this course is to learn how to use whatever tool effectively, whether it is MATLAB or Python or Polymath, or whatever your preference is.