Response to Student Feedback
HSTY2019 - Australia to 1888 (2003)

Unit Coordinators: Dr Penny Russell , Dr Kirsten Mckenzie and Mr Richard White

The response to this unit by students was overwhelmingly positive. Of over 100 students, only 3 expressed dissatisfaction. Students were particularly impressed with the staff's responsiveness to student feedback, with only 1% of the class expressing any dissatisfaction.

Students commented:

• "All teaching staff were very approachable. Many opportunities were offered to discuss the course, especially the long essay".
• "It's fantastic to have lecturers so passionate about the subject."

Students found the process of devising and researching their own essay topic valuable. While some found it daunting, others enjoyed the process from the start, and the vast majority, including those who found it challenging, thought it a particularly rewarding aspect of the course. As one student put it, it "fast-tracked the development of my critical and analytical skills".

The field trips to Melbourne and the Great North Road were very popular. "Going on the field trip made me realise that so many others, and the staff, were committed to historical learning" wrote one student.

While some students (21%) felt that the workload in the in the unit was too high, the majority of students were satisfied with this and felt that it was appropriate to this subject and level of study.

"There was a good deal of reading but it was for our own benefit", wrote one student. Another commented that possibility of reading selectively for tutorials made the workload more manageable.

Some students expressed a wish for more background detail and attention to chronology in the course. We will continue to think about ways of addressing this, including using and expanding the time lines we use in other Australian history courses.