HST203 - Spring 2016 - Student Evaluation of Instruction

Instructor comments added in red
Average rank
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Strongly AgreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree
1. What was taught agreed with the objectives stated in the catalog or course outline. 1.3 
2. The instructor exhibited an enthusiasm and interest in the subject. 1.1 
3. The instructor was knowledgeable in the subject. 1.1 
4. The instructor used class time effectively. 1.2 
5. Respected diff. genders, religions, ethnic backgrounds, class status, abilities and lifestyles. 1.3 
6. The instructor encouraged students to think. 1.2 
7. The instructor's teaching methods were effective in helping me learn the material. 1.5 
8. The instructor made an effort to be available to students. 1.2 
9. Helped students understand the course material and find answers to relevant questions. 1.3 
10. The instructor was fair and reasonable. 1.3 
11. The instructor helped me believe I could achieve my potential in this course. 1.5 
12. Overall, the instructor was effective. Consider both limitations and possibilities. 1.3 
Responses Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Total
1. What was taught agreed with the objectives stated in the catalog or course outline. 34 (76%) 10 (22%) 1 (2%) 0 45
2. The instructor exhibited an enthusiasm and interest in the subject. 41 (91%) 4 (9%) 0 0 45
3. The instructor was knowledgeable in the subject. 40 (89%) 5 (11%) 0 0 45
4. The instructor used class time effectively. 38 (84%) 7 (16%) 0 0 45
5. Respected diff. genders, religions, ethnic backgrounds, class status, abilities and lifestyles. 31 (69%) 14 (31%) 0 0 45
6. The instructor encouraged students to think. 36 (80%) 8 (18%) 1 (2%) 0 45
7. The instructor's teaching methods were effective in helping me learn the material. 29 (64%) 11 (24%) 4 (9%) 1 (2%) 45
8. The instructor made an effort to be available to students. 35 (78%) 10 (22%) 0 0 45
9. Helped students understand the course material and find answers to relevant questions. 34 (76%) 10 (22%) 1 (2%) 0 45
10. The instructor was fair and reasonable. 32 (71%) 12 (27%) 1 (2%) 0 45
11. The instructor helped me believe I could achieve my potential in this course. 26 (58%) 17 (38%) 2 (4%) 0 45
12. Overall, the instructor was effective. Consider both limitations and possibilities. 33 (73%) 12 (27%) 0 0 45
What did you like about the class?
Response
I liked how knowledgeable you were on the subject and how you clearly have a passion for history (as shown by the countless photos of you at historic places.) You were engaging and had just enough dry humor to spice up the class without it becoming unprofessional. Please continue to teach so that others can experience a great class on American History!
The general flow of the class. The lectures were effective and enjoyable. Most class lectures are boring as hell, this class was different.
I really liked the online feature of the class and the clarity the professor provided for assignments and expectations.
The lectures were good
I found myself leaving the classroom quite often with a sense that I had learned something that I never knew before. In fact many historical "truths" that i held firm were quickly exposed as falsehoods or embelishments not supported by historical evidence.
I found it to be a good amount of information presented in a very accessible way, both online & in person.
The style of learning, where we would read, and then come to class and you would explain the reading in depth, was very effective and helped me retain info much better.
It was full of information and did not waste my time
It was very well organized.
I liked the way the class was designed and laid out. I liked that we had both class time and online time. The in class discussion/lecture was very helpful as well as the online forum where we could post our own thoughts and opinions.
I like his effort to teach the class, he is very knowledgeable to the subject.
I like how he presented the information.
Prior to this class, I did not have a very broad spectrum of historical awareness, especially in U.S. History. Now I can confidently say I am a lot more educated on the matter. I enjoyed the lecture style and humor of Escobar.
The instructors passion for history and vast knowledge. I felt like I really learned a lot by coming to class and truly enjoyed this class.
Personally, my favorite thing about this class was the instructor's enthusiasm for the subject. Learning about history is a lot more fun when you have a professor who actually cares about the subject he's teaching.
Joe is very straightforward in what is expected in order to succeed in his class. On the very first day of class, he told us what the class was going to be like and if that was not going to work with someone then he suggested that they should choose a different class to take right away. His method of teaching is organized and clear. He is passionate about the subject he teaches and that made the class interesting. His exams are difficult, but if you pay attention/take notes and do the assigned readings, then you will be fine. He cares about his students and makes sure to answer any questions anyone has.
I like that the teacher has a sense of humor and an active engagement in the material. Anyone can just read off History, but it is much more enjoyable if the teacher has their own drive with it.
That the teacher really taught the class and was excited to teach the material.
I love how passionate Mr. Escobar is about the material presented in this course and also the success of his students.
I like the topics covered, and the depth that each is covered. Escobar really knows what he is talking about, is passionate, and provides very usefull insight on the topics.
Intersted informational video clips.
Not an easy class but very informative to say the least.
Class time was used very efficiently, material was presented with knowledge and enthusiasm.
I personally liked the lectures. It is easy to tell that Mr. Escobar is fully knowledgable and passionate about history, which made the class much more enjoyable.
Everything
The information was good.
This class was amazing. Joe is the best history teacher I have had, and am planning to take another course with him.
Joe Escobar is a fantastic professor who is very obviously passionate about history. He made classes interesting and provided interesting discussion topics in the forums. History 203 was my first class with Professor Escobar but I may end up taking 201 and 202 just because of how much I enjoyed this class.
I am a huge fan of how you don't shy away from the good and bad of each situation/person that is being talked about.
easy points available in quizzes and forums.
I liked the material covered in the class. The instructor was passionate and knowledgeable about what he was teaching.
I liked how structured it was. I was never lost in what I needed to do. If I didn't do it it was because of my own fault and not that of the teacher. It was a very black and white class which I enjoyed because you either did the work and did well or didn't do the work and didn't do well. You show up to class take notes read the book take notes and takes the tests you will get all the information 3 times if you pay attention.
I really liked the way Escobar taught his class, he was very straight up about the subjects, and he made it very clear what happened regardless of whether he had a personal bias on the matter or not. I also just enjoyed getting to learn about history, half of the time it seemed like fun, not like a chore or work.
I enjoyed the fact that the instructor made the events relatable.
overall great material, instructor was really great and easy to talk to
The over all confidence behind his teaching and does not question himself or " Umm" in any of his discussions.
Lectures in the course are somewhat reenacted, speaking with correct terminology and relevant morality/political leanings for the time period. Multiple sides of an issue are exposed and questioned, with no favoritism shown for any side. Simply a fact is stated and examined.
I liked the online forum I really liked all the videos and images of the real people and things that were part of the era of history we were talking about. You were very fair about showing both sides of the political spectrum
It was organized in a way that made sure I always attended class and finished required assignments before their deadline.
There are a lot of fun and relevant videos that connected to the topic that the professor talked about. However, it would be difficult to remeber them all and try to find corrrect answers during the exams.
I liked the way you incorporated videos into lecture
I liked the way he engaged with the students and the effort that the put in.
i liked that the teacher was enthusiastic during lectures. That, and the slides and videos presented in class made learning the material interesting and more effective.
Really enjoyed the teaching style. Could tell you put a lot of time and effort into making the PowerPoint and finding all of the links and the videos. Liked how you were able to mix some humor in as well making the class very enjoyable. I left the class each day wanting to learn more.
How could this class be improved? Add any comments about the class and/or instructor that you feel might be helpful or useful.
Response
You could make your class twice as long so we can enjoy your enthusiasm a little longer!
I think that the professor could have given better warning when showing harsher subject matter, especially when it came to images/videos. And that there was more sensitivity shown in this aspect.
not being hybrid in class tests
I don't think I could advise anything credible to improve the class, except maybe mixing in group/classroom discussions involving the readings or lectures just to make it more interactive.
I think the addition of more weekly student polls could provide interesting insight on where people land on weekly chapter spectrum topics. I wouldn't add required in-class discussion, Millennials have a tough time talking to other humans.
I had a problem with remembering to post on forums throughout the week so maybe just have 2 - 3 set days throughout the week during which it is required to post.
there could be less required discussion on the forums, they are very helpful when one is looking for information or has questions and this is the ONLY class that they are taking. but when coupled with the work load of other classes, the forums are rendered as a useless and bothersome exercise at best.
I realize this class is a hybrid class; however, I feel we had a little too much work out side class to make up for the three hours of class a week instead of four. I hope students realize that they need to put in 2 hours outside class time EACH credit the class is worth.  Therefore, a 4 credit class will require 8 hours outside of class each week.  (A 12 credit, "full time" student load requires 24 hours outside of class, in addition to the 12 hours inside the clasroom each week. Therefore (12+24) 36 hours a week is similar to a full time (8 hours a day for 5 days) 40 hour work week.
I think that more online activities cold be helpful. Maybe having assignments beyond just the forums online.
He needs to make students know the conext and explain more.
Work on Forums during the week. I think the grading on them was a tad harsh. In addition the questions on the final were very difficult to study for when having three other finals the same week. Maybe if that was the only class I was taking it would have been easier.
Maybe adding another class period, sometimes the material felt rushed. But I know that is far easier said than done so don't worry about it.
A study review before midterm.
I feel like this class is just fine the way it is. I hadn't taken a hybrid class before, and initially, I wasn't really looking forward to it. But the instructor gave all the students more than enough opportunities to do well in the course.
More clips of That 70's Show.
I was not a fan of the forums just because it did not involve the past it was more current event policies and what not.
It would be nice if Mr. Escobar made the videos presented in class available. As I explain to students every term, since I don't own the copyrights to the videos, students have to be present in class to see the in-class videos.
This class, a hybrid between in-class and online work, was just not for me. Nothing against Escobar.
The lectures where the most helpful to me. I'm not a huge fan of the online discussions just because I don't like to be vocal about my view.
I think this class can be improved if there was more student involvement during the lecture. It is a lecture class, but I always tend to see the students daze off if they are not doing anything or express no interest in the subject. Maybe more in-class activities could help this situation.
Extra credit for something you find interesting
Sometimes there were misunderstandings of things related to history but not purely history itself.
Keep doing what you're doing!
Nothing I can think of.
I think more study session like before the final would be very heplful during the midterms
Possibly assign handout versions of the quizzes so you have something to look at for future studying for exam time. Students can print out every single online quiz they take from home for each chapter.
I think the class should slow down. It would be helpful to spend more time on important topics such as WW2, The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement.
I don't know seems good to me. I think the quizzes maybe should be worth more of the grade since there are so many of them almost like a homework.  They ARE homework and worth 20% of your class grade.
I don't think there was really anything that needed to be improved about the class. I knew what my homework was, I was taught the material, I was told when certain things would be on certain tests. It was very straight forward.
review before the midterm
Always give fair warning of readings and tell them to start early. Post many many times on forums. Don't be afraid to email or message him.  Your last two sentences are meant as warnings to enrolled students, and I agree completely with both of them.  Post often (since there is no limit), and contact me ANYTIME.
I do not know how the class could be improved and feel as though it doesn't need to be. I hope the style of lecture is continued for future students to enjoy and discuss.
You might have a reason not to but I would have liked it if you had opened up the forums a little earlier. I often had time after class where I could use a computer and could have started posting on the forum. However you usually didn't open them up until quiet a bit later.
Make Sunday the ending day for forums, instead of Saturday.
Maybe the instructor should mention what question that he will ask for the exams for the images and videos. Otherwise, it's really easy to mix them up. It's difficult to recall those details after a long time after all.  I always strongly encourage all students to take notes during the videos.
Have review sessions for the midterm
I'd like the videos to be titled so when we take notes on the video we can get a question like "in the video of ww2 with speaker john ...etc" that way it's easier to study the videos to do better on the exams.  Good idea.
Think it is great how it is. smile