2

HST202 Winter Term 2017 - Course Evaluations
Instructor comments added in red

Rate the 12 questions below
Average rank
 ⇓ N/A

Strongly AgreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree
1. What was taught agreed with the objectives stated in the catalog or course outline. 1.2  0
2. The instructor exhibited an enthusiasm and interest in the subject. 1.1  0
3. The instructor was knowledgeable in the subject. 1.0  0
4. The instructor used class time effectively. 1.1  0
5. Respected diff. genders, religions, ethnic backgrounds, class status, abilities and lifestyles. 1.3  0
6. The instructor encouraged students to think. 1.4  0
7. The instructor's teaching methods were effective in helping me learn the material. 1.4  0
8. The instructor made an effort to be available to students. 1.2  0
9. Helped students understand the course material and find answers to relevant questions. 1.3  0
10. The instructor was fair and reasonable. 1.2  0
11. The instructor helped me believe I could achieve my potential in this course. 1.4  0
12. Overall, the instructor was effective. Consider both limitations and possibilities. 1.3  0
Responses Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Total N/A
1. What was taught agreed with the objectives stated in the catalog or course outline. 37 (84%) 7 (16%) 0 0 44 0
2. The instructor exhibited an enthusiasm and interest in the subject. 40 (91%) 4 (9%) 0 0 44 0
3. The instructor was knowledgeable in the subject. 42 (95%) 2 (5%) 0 0 44 0
4. The instructor used class time effectively. 39 (89%) 4 (9%) 1 (2%) 0 44 0
5. Respected diff. genders, religions, ethnic backgrounds, class status, abilities and lifestyles. 33 (75%) 10 (23%) 1 (2%) 0 44 0
6. The instructor encouraged students to think. 28 (64%) 16 (36%) 0 0 44 0
7. The instructor's teaching methods were effective in helping me learn the material. 27 (61%) 17 (39%) 0 0 44 0
8. The instructor made an effort to be available to students. 35 (80%) 9 (20%) 0 0 44 0
9. Helped students understand the course material and find answers to relevant questions. 31 (70%) 13 (30%) 0 0 44 0
10. The instructor was fair and reasonable. 35 (80%) 9 (20%) 0 0 44 0
11. The instructor helped me believe I could achieve my potential in this course. 27 (61%) 15 (34%) 2 (5%) 0 44 0
12. Overall, the instructor was effective. Consider both limitations and possibilities. 32 (73%) 12 (27%) 0 0 44 0

3

What did you like about the class?
Response
Many easy points accessible to us.
I liked the incorporation of forums, videos, online quizzes to relearn the material. The instructor stock to the material, used the class time very wisely, allowed students to ask questions, was very approachable for help, notified the students about test material and homework due, curved the grades on tests in relation to rest scores, reviewed test answers with the class, and was overall very passionate about the material.
It helped me to learn about American history objectively and during a time period I honestly don't know much about.
I really liked the time period and the extensive use of videos in class and online.
it was hybrid
the way the class flowed. I never walked into class expecting the same lesson I had the previous day. Never knew if we were going to have a poll, or watch video, or just a basic lecture.
Watching videos and discussing opposing viewpoints on certain topics generated a lot of thinking and discussion, overall the material was taught well.
I personally loved the class as I love history, but Mr. Escobar made the class enjoyable while learning. I liked the most was lectures as each one was different and was explained very clearly so material was never mixed up.
From day one, Joe told you what you needed to do to get a good grade and more out of this class. That is a respect, and quite blatantly, what one would think would be a given among college professors, that is what others should strive to do with their students. It really puts the emphasis on the student deciding their grade, which I feel is exactly how it should be.
I liked the teacher was open to his students and would be happy to meet with anyone in his classroom. He was always nice and made us think! He encouraged everyone to participate, both online and in class! Great teacher!
I loved the lectures. They were very interesting and I learned a lot more from the lectures than I did the textbook.
I enjoyed the lecture set-up. It was efficiently presented and explained enthusiastically and made it easily comprehendible. I also found that all of the examples of modern day vs past were really helpful in understanding the times. Joe did a fantastic job of bringing light to those examples and even giving examples of his own. Even with this just being a survey course, I do feel significantly more informed of the history of the U.S. and am definitely interested in continuing my education on the subject. I look forward to taking the next course!
I loved all the cool facts that I learned from history. I liked also that I learned the truth about history rather than the middle school answer.
I really enjoyed my instructors enthusiasm for the subject which helped me learn a lot in class. The information we learned in class was interesting and easy to follow which made coming to class enjoyable.
It was well organized, and the instructor knew the topic well. I enjoyed coming to class.
The subject and the professor
Generally in history courses I have taken previously, history was interesting but was presented in a dull fashion. I really appreciated how enthusiastic Escobar was about our topics. I felt I learned a lot and because of his teaching methods and over all persona in class I have enrolled in his next course - HST 203. Thank you for helping me enjoy this topic more.
lectures were very interesting
Great integration of videos and personal experience. 5-STARS
I like that we take chapter quizzes online and they aren't pop quizzes
I liked that the expectations were very clear and attainable and the professor made time for students, even if they weren't within his office hours. He also told jokes and talked about his personal experiences and historical places he's been.
I liked that it was a hybrid class and that you knew exactly what to expect every week from Joe. Very knowledgeable teacher.
I learned a lot. I felt the format of the class was well designed. The forums encouraged critical thinking, which was welcome, compared to other classes I've taken where the grade is almost exclusively based on tests.
I like how he covered all the material he thought was important and left out the things we really did not need to know to understand the history of what happened.
It was very straightforward from the beginning what was expected from every student.
The forum and all the slides and pictures.
I liked how Mr. Escobar was really energetic and looked like he enjoyed what he was talking about. He helped difficult things make sense in a number of ways. He was completely fair in grades and definitely made the grade you achieve up to you.
Over all I thought that this class was very interesting. I found the material that we studied on the civil war was the most interesting. However, I also liked the fact that the instructor made the lectures interesting and made students want to learn the material.
The book that was required was actually used to it maximum. Also the teaching style of the professor
Very enjoyable! I learned a lot. great environment in class and easy to understand online work.
History is one of my favorite subjects and i absolutely loved this class. The information that you learn is impeccable. Mr. Escobar out did himself with the course that i am going to finish.
Lectures, workload, reading, tests.
I like this class but I have a hard time posting to forums
That it was a hybrid course.
On the very first day of class, you told us that if we participate in all activities and still do poorly on our exams, we can still earn a B grade. GREAT NEWS! You are passionate about this subject and it is obvious in how you conduct your class. You are highly knowledgable about the subject and you care that your students understand the material by making yourself available to us. You used every second of class time to lecture and I feel that I definitely received my tuition money by taking this course. I liked the variety. Coming to class two days a week for an entertaining lecture, online forums, online polls, the textbook readings, and documentaries you posted in Moodle really brought the whole picture together for me as one amazing story of our history! Even if I didn't need this class for my degree, I would still loved to have taken it. I am considering taking 201 and 203 once I have the time in my schedule. Knowing our country's history is very important and Professor Escobar has made it interesting and something I desire more of.
I liked how well prepared the instructor was. In many classes the instructor is not as well prepared so we run out of time or even have too much time. I also enjoyed all the visuals, it wasn't just boring paragraph long power point slides. I also liked we got more than one perspective on things.
I liked how the quizzes were graded in this class. It took a lot of the stress out of having weekly quizzes. I liked how interested Joe is in what he teaches. That made it easier to remember certain things.
varied format.
Teaching styles, always kept it interesting
What I liked about this class was how much I learned.
Joe taught us history and made it interesting not boring.
insightful video clips and the connections made to todays historical and political climate

4

How could this class be improved? Add any comments about the class and/or instructor that you feel might be helpful or useful.
Response
Different forms of forum topics (cartoons, movies, etc), and putting test answers from midterms on Moodle to review.
The forums just didn't seem of much value to me. I didn't really "learn" anything. I mainly just analyzed different pictures and articles. I'm not sure how you could improve this, I just didn't find them that beneficial.
make the class more interesting
How? Please share.
the seating is horrible, but that is just a personal issue more than something that actually needs to be addressed.
Adding more time for in-class activities and discussion would be helpful, however it is a hybrid course so those are usually saved for the online portion.
I enjoy the use of clickers in class and would of loved to see more usage of them.
Having to wait 30 minutes before viewing other people's posts in a forum was slightly disgruntling. I feel the edit time should be shortened to 10 or 15.
I agree. Unfortunately this is a Moodle system-wide setting, so it is beyond my control.
I think the teacher is doing an outstanding job at the moment! Not much else he could do honestly! 10/10 class and instructor!
The forums are tough to keep up with if you have a busy schedule. I had to set reminders on my phone to make posts in them, because between working and other classe, it was easy to forget to do the forums throughout the week.
I think more class polling (online or in class) would be a neat and engaging way to capture how the students may be viewing some of the history that they're learning about. Otherwise, I think Joe uses the class time really well.
I think that forums could be set up a little better at the beginning so students know what they're getting into.
It would of been a lot easier to obtain quality information from the readings if we had the list of terms before each half of the term.
You want the exam study list at the start of class?  Sorry.  First, I don't teach to the test.  Second, no one would ever read the textbook.  And third, did you see how little students "worked together" in Google Docs to develop the list themselves?
Forums are a bit odd. I would like more in class discussions.
But I explained that on the first day.  The hybrid class is shorter, so more work needs to be done online. And online, EVERYONE has to participate.  Did you notice that the same three or four people were the ones to speak in class each day?
It may assist more kinesthetic learners if there is more group activities, history is a hard subject to capture physically but it may help in areas of the subject that seem to be less popular.
More pictures of Mr.Escobar at historic locations.
longer class time with break
Create a Youtube Channel
I think the forums could use a little work. More information about how to use a forum and maybe better topics
I would like to have more worksheets to practice the things we read in the book/learn in class and a more specific study guide for tests.
I think some more in class discussions on forums would be helpful.
I know plagiarism has become somewhat of an epidemic in college now, but I would have liked to the opportunity to write a paper. It would have helped me delve into one topic more extensively than the forums allowed.
I think the midterm and final should be shortened by a lot. Its hard to stay concentrated through 100 questions just too many questions.
I think the the amount of material covered within the 10 weeks is a bit much.
Can't think of anything
I think this class has been ironed out pretty well and seems to flow and progress perfectly. For me it was perfect, so I guess reiterating how important participation and attendance are will help with failing grades.
I like the class the way the instructor taught it, the only comment I do have , is I believe that the instructor should comment on the students individual forum posts to give students an idea of what they were missing in their post to justify grading.
I'm always glad to give specific feedback, and I did for the number of students who asked.
Everything was good and easy to follow
I really liked the teaching style and class material. Would highly recommend bow tie dress code for lectures.
Sorry, no ties.  I did wear them MANY years ago when the youthful Joe could have been mistaken for a student. Now, old and gray, students will just have to live with the button up shirts with collars.
I think the class works great, the only thing I would tinker with is the forums, a cool idea but it was definitely my least favorite part of the class. Every student enjoys different activities but if I had to pick something I didn't love it was that.
Make forums in class optional aswell as online.
I think the Civil War was rushed through. I would have liked to spend a little bit more time on it, since I found it to be a little confusing.
Professor Escobar has this class down to perfection! You will not be disappointed in his class if you do all the assigned work and come to class every day. This history class has changed my life, the way I view the world around me, and my reaction to it.
I would change the forum grading a bit, and do the midterm and final exam in class. many people do not have the time to set aside to take an exam like that.
I think that the readings were a bit long, but I don't see how anything could really be done about that.
no need.
Perfect as it is Joe, wish more teachers taught like you
I just wish I could have gotten a better grade in this class. I have nothing else to add.
Maybe more interaction within the class.
less required online participation stipulations like graded polls and required posts in the forum on the 1st day of the week