History Department Response to Student Feedback
HSTY2678 - Race Around the World (2008)

Unit Coordinator: Dr Kirsten Mckenzie & Associate Professor Penny Russell

‘Race Around the World’ was taught for the first time in 2008. We were delighted that it scored a 97% agreement or strong agreement on the question of overall satisfaction, with 3% of students neutral on this point. 100% of respondents considered that the unit encouraged their thinking and “helped them to develop an enhanced diversity of ideas, attitudes and approaches to and beyond the subject matter.” As one respondent put it: “I thought this course was fantastic in giving us ‘real world’ practical skills for the application of the course.” Given the importance of race relations in the world in which we all live today, we were particularly pleased with the response to this particular issue. When we teach the course again in 2010, we will pay attention to the following concerns raised in student responses:

• The two-hour lecture schedule: this proved a tiring experience for some, and we have decided to spread the lectures over two days in response.
• Guest lectures: these proved particularly popular, especially the diversity of opinion represented by Indigenous and non-Indigenous lecturers, and we will endeavour to keep up this commitment going.
• Some students expressed a desire for more a more flexible delivery for the unit (particularly taped lectures) and we will move towards a stronger web presence in 2010.
• Course readers: The unit was taught without a reading brick (readings were available for download). Several students suggested that we provide them with the option of buying a reading brick should they wish to do so. We will implement this in 2010