History Department Response to Student Feedback
HSTY3083/3084 - Race, Empire and Bondage (2003)

Unit Coordinator: Dr Kirsten McKenzie

This seminar was taught for the first time in 2003 and received very positive responses from students, particularly in the way in which it fostered an enthusiastic and enjoyable learning environment. The course received a 100% “agree and strongly agree” rating in the areas of staff responsiveness to student feedback, the feeling of being part of a group of students and staff committed to learning, and overall satisfaction with the unit of study.

Some of the comments made by participants about the course:

• “It really refined essay-writing & analytical thinking for me"
• “The class has been really enjoyable, great having tea/coffee & getting to know everyone”
• “This unit is one of the first I have experienced that has really encouraged us to think & work independently (as historians). Its been great to get a glimpse of a possible future.”
• “I have really appreciated the one on one attention given to us”.

Some of the ways in which this course will be improved in 2004:

• A website has been developed to improve access to primary source collections in remote archives.
• The assessment weighting given to class participation has been increased to better reflect the importance of this aspect of the learning experience.
• There will be an overview lecture given at the start of the course to familiarise students with its wide geographical and historical scope.