History Department Response to Student Feedback
HSTY3085 - The Celtic World (2005)

Unit Coordinator: Dr Lynette Olson

Statistically there was no criticism of this unit of study at all; the mean score for overall satisfaction was 4.36 out of 5. The only critical comment, from a student who was ‘neutral’ about the workload, was ‘Possibly some weeks the readings were too long’. The very favourable evaluation that it received is to be expected from an upper-level seminar on a topic that people who choose to do it really like. There is a built-in problem of seminars for which the one paper is due at the end: feedback on assessment only comes after the course is over; this slightly lowered the rating on questions of assessment. My proposed remedy of talking to students immediately after their seminar presentations did not work with a largish seminar in a smallish room where students had to double up on topics and I didn’t want to evaluate anyone in front of their co-presenter. Statistical responses about interaction with other learners, reinforced by comments, indicated that the students enjoyed being part of a group of enthusiasts (including the teacher). My favourite comment was: ‘learning + fun = good’.