I. Goals of the course

You can look back for a detailed list but in brief:

• Make progress towards independence
• Practice building your own insights
• Grasp the basics of molecular biology as a useful tool

Do you now have an understanding of these goals? Do you consider them worthy?

Your thoughts?

II. The Means of the Course

These goals were to be achieved through means you can review in detail.
Please consider whether they helped you achieve the stated goals of the course:

1. Basic tools of engagement
   Look back on the on-line notes (example), companions (example), experiment simulations (example) -- all done (in theory) outside of class, followed by discussions in class (but not a lot of people came to class regularly).

   Your thoughts?
   
    

2. Results vs conclusions
   The focus on primary research articles throughout the semester, supplemented by exercises in class and summaries of experiments, was an attempt to help you see the difference between results and conclusions.

   Your thoughts?
   
    

3. The research project
   I saw this as an opportunity to view research as something more than science fairs, to see how questions are raised by prior experimental results, and -- most important -- to engage in a dialogue with a mentor who sees research as a lifelong calling. I tried to spread the activity over the semester, but for the most part, this didn't appear to happen.

   Your thoughts?
   
    

4. Peer review
   On two occasions -- for your experiment summaries and your research proposals -- you were given the opportunity to learn from critiques of your work by your peers and to provide critiques of the work of others. It's always nice to get feedback, but providing it may lead to the greater benefit, as doing so encourages you to adopt a critical viewpoint that you can apply to your own work. But did this happen?

   Your thoughts?
   
    

5. Help and feedback
   Most classes you broke up into groups to work on problems -- an opportunity for trading ideas. You may have met with Raiha or gotten written feedback from her, and you certainly met with me individually and got individual written feedback. How did this work for you? Did you feel you had adequate opportunity to get the help and feedback you needed?

   Your thoughts?
   

III. Bottom line

1. Three things you'd advise that this class never to do again?
   
    
2. Three things you'd advise that this class keep doing at all costs?
   
    
3. Three ideas that would make the course better for those that come after you? (I know... make shorter questionnaires)
   
    
4. Did you get what you wanted out of the course? If so, what? If not, what did you miss?
   Do you feel more proficient in some way? If so, how?
   What if anything do you think will still be with you from the course in five years?

A LONG questionnaire... Thanks!

  REMEMBER TO CLICK SUBMIT!