History Department Response to Student Feedback

HSTY2664 - Communicating Culture in the Middle Ages (2007)

Unit Coordinator: Dr Julie Ann Smith

Overall satisfaction was 88%, though the survey group was quite small (26 out of 63 students). Most of the qualitative responses indicated that students found the unit interesting and challenging (and it is always my intention to present challenging units of study). Students expressed appreciation for timely and extensive feedback, and that the unit stimulated their learning. Quite a few students requested WebCT support for the unit, and this will become standard in all my units from now on. This is particularly appropriate given the strong visual element of the primary materials. Several students emphasized particularly that the unit contributed to development of their skills in analyzing visual texts. In general students were satisfied with the level of reading for tutorials and the workload for assessment. A few students had expected a broader survey of medieval history, but this type of approach is available in the first-year medieval unit.